{
  "id": 7306817,
  "title": "Rebel Trinamool MP Basunia claims 17 of 20 NCPI MPs to join BJP; fellow rebels, ruling party deny",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/rebel-trinamool-mp-basunia-claims-17-of-20-ncpi-mps-to-join-bjp",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T11:48:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/rebel-trinamool-mp-basunia-claims-17-of-20-ncpi-mps-to-join-bjp-fellow-rebels-ruling-party-deny/article71465946.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Basunia stated that 17 out of 20 NCPI-aligned Lok Sabha members are set to join the BJP before or after Durga Puja, a claim which was immediately rejected by fellow dissidents. The BJP's West Bengal chief, Samik Bhattacharya, denied the possibility of accepting new members. Basunia asserted that the group's decision was unanimous, making them exempt from the anti-defection law, as more than two-thirds of the group would be moving to the BJP. The TMC leadership, led by Mamata Banerjee, has challenged the MPs' disqualification in court, while fellow rebel MP Satabdi Roy claimed that Basunia was speaking on his own behalf.",
  "summary": "The BJP sought to distance itself from the claim, with its West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya saying the party would not take in anyone merely because they want to join it",
  "key_points": [
    "17 of 20 NCPI-aligned MPs to join BJP",
    "Basunia's claim rejected by fellow rebels",
    "TMC challenges MPs disqualification in court"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "17 of 20 NCPI MPs to join BJP, says one of them months after leaving TMC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/17-of-20-ncpi-mps-to-join-bjp-says-one-of-them-months-after-leaving",
        "published": "2026-09-14T10:28:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "17 Rebel TMC MPs May Join BJP Before Or After Durga Puja, Claims Jagadish Basunia; Dissidents Deny Move",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/17-rebel-tmc-mps-may-join-bjp-before-or-after-durga-puja-claims",
        "published": "2026-09-14T11:14:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Are TMC rebel MPs set to join BJP after Durga Puja? Remark sparks Bengal buzz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/are-tmc-rebel-mps-set-to-join-bjp-after-durga-puja-remark-sparks",
        "published": "2026-09-14T12:52:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}