Two Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state Secretariat in Nabanna on Saturday, August 8, 2026, amid growing speculation about the party’s political future.
Murshidabad MP Abu Taher Khan and Jangipur MP Khalilur Rahman met Adhikari and discussed issues concerning their constituencies. However, both MPs reiterated that they would not join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
MPs Raise Muslim Community Issues
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khan said the MPs discussed concerns affecting Muslims in Murshidabad, including the deletion of names from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and restrictions on the use of microphones at mosques.
Khan rejected suggestions that his meeting with the BJP-led state government indicated that he was moving closer to the BJP.
“Many people feel that we are tilting towards the BJP, but that is completely untrue,” Khan said.
He added that as elected representatives, they had a responsibility to raise issues affecting people in their constituencies, including concerns of the minority community.
Meetings With BJP Leaders Fuel Merger Speculation
The meeting has come amid a series of interactions between NCPI MPs and senior BJP leaders, triggering speculation about a possible political realignment within the party.
On Friday, August 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met NCPI MPs over breakfast in Delhi. Earlier, the three NCPI MPs from Murshidabad—Khan, Khalilur Rahman and Yusuf Pathan—had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The three MPs have maintained that they will not join the NDA and had also skipped some NDA meetings.
The developments have raised questions about the unity of the NCPI, particularly after 20 Trinamool Congress MPs reportedly broke away following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year and joined the relatively little-known NCPI.
Murshidabad MPs Maintain Distance From NDA
Murshidabad has a Muslim population of around 70%, making issues concerning the community politically significant in the district.
While 17 other NCPI MPs have indicated their willingness to join the NDA, the three MPs from Murshidabad have so far maintained their distance from the alliance.
The latest meeting with Adhikari is therefore being closely watched amid continuing speculation over whether the NCPI will remain united or see further divisions.
The meeting also came a day after rebel Trinamool Congress MLAs led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee met Adhikari. Thirteen MLAs from the group, including 11 from the minority community, were present at that meeting and said they raised issues concerning Muslims.
