Kolkata, 03 August (H.S.): National Citizens Party of India (NCPI) chief whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Monday dismissed speculation of a split within the party, asserting that all 20 Members of Parliament who had joined the outfit after the change of government in West Bengal continue to remain united.

Speaking before leaving for New Delhi, Kakoli said an internal meeting of NCPI MPs had been convened in the national capital. She maintained that there was no question of any MP leaving the party despite recent speculation following the absence of three NCPI parliamentarians from a meeting of the NDA Parliamentary Party.

We have a meeting scheduled in Delhi. All 20 of us have been together throughout. A few other MPs are also in touch with us, Kakoli said, rejecting reports of internal differences.

The speculation gathered pace after Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy recently claimed that his party remained in contact with several former colleagues who had joined the NCPI. He suggested that some MPs were unhappy with the party's subsequent decision to support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Parliament, particularly a section of Muslim MPs.

The rumours intensified after reports that NCPI MPs Abu Taher, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan did not attend the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting held last week. However, none of the three MPs has publicly commented on the reports or indicated any intention to leave the party.

The NCPI was formed after 20 former Trinamool Congress MPs joined the new political outfit following the change of government in West Bengal. Since then, the party has been extending support to the NDA in Parliament.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh