The roughly hour-long meeting took place at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Monday. Neither side issued an official statement on what was discussed. Bandyopadhyay is among the 20 MPs who left Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress a few weeks after the West Bengal Assembly elections to join the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) — a move that has kept questions swirling ever since about the party's future direction and political alignment.

According to sources, Adhikari had originally planned to travel to Delhi himself to meet the 20 rebel MPs, but cancelled the trip at the last minute, instead informing some senior NCPI MPs over the phone that he wouldn't be coming. A senior NCPI MP said the proposed meeting between the Chief Minister and the party's MPs has been postponed for now, though all the party's MPs will still attend the scheduled NDA meeting as planned.

The Nabanna meeting has intensified talk that the newly formed NCPI could be moving closer to the BJP-led coalition at the Centre. The party had already signalled a similar direction on July 19, when its MPs attended an all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session — read at the time as an early indication of growing coordination with the ruling alliance.

Since breaking away from TMC, Bandyopadhyay and the other 19 rebel MPs have met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group, and have also expressed a wish to sit alongside NDA's allied parties in the Lok Sabha. If the Speaker grants recognition to NCPI along with all 20 MPs, the party could become one of the NDA's largest allied groups in the Lok Sabha.

With NCPI's MPs set to attend Tuesday's NDA meeting regardless of the postponed Adhikari sit-down, the coming days are likely to bring further clarity on just how close the two sides are actually moving — and what that could mean for the balance of power both in Parliament and within West Bengal's fractured political landscape.

The rebel MPs have a petition pending before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking formal recognition of their merger into NCPI, and are expecting a decision on it soon. One rebel MP said the merger petition remains with the Speaker and that they expect a resolution shortly.

The split traces back to TMC's defeat in this year's West Bengal Assembly elections in April, which triggered a major fracture within the party. Of TMC's 28 Lok Sabha MPs, 20 broke away from the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, aligning instead with NCPI — an unrecognised political party registered in Howrah, West Bengal.

Rebel MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attended Tuesday's meeting on the invitation of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Opposition parties objected to their presence and staged a symbolic walkout, though they returned to the meeting a short while later.

If the Speaker grants recognition to the NCPI merger, it would mark the largest split in Trinamool Congress's history. In that scenario, these MPs would attend future NDA meetings specifically as NCPI representatives rather than as TMC dissidents. If the merger isn't approved, they would continue participating in such meetings as rebel TMC MPs instead.

The stakes extend beyond formal recognition. Whichever way the Speaker rules, the outcome is likely to deepen the political crisis already underway within Trinamool Congress and shift the balance of political equations between the treasury and opposition benches during the current Parliament session. Separately, of TMC's 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, 64 have also revolted, forming a distinct faction under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding action against the 20 rebel MPs, according to related reporting — a sign the parliamentary fight over recognition is set to continue alongside the broader organisational battle playing out within the party.

TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay held talks with Amit Shah in Delhi, intensifying speculation over a rebel parliamentary bloc.

 Veteran Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Saturday, a development that has added fresh momentum to speculation surrounding a growing rebel camp within the TMC's Lok Sabha contingent.

Sought appointment for days

According to sources, Bandyopadhyay had been trying to secure time with Shah for several days before the meeting finally materialised. The Kolkata North MP also met Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju during his Delhi visit, sources said.

Meeting with Yadav a day earlier

The Shah meeting came a day after Bandyopadhyay reportedly held discussions with senior BJP leader and Union minister Bhupender Yadav. He was accompanied during that visit by fellow TMC MP Satabdi Roy, who is also believed to be part of the dissident group. The two leaders spent close to an hour at Yadav's residence, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Rebel MPs eye Sunday huddle

Sources indicated that the group of dissident Trinamool MPs is likely to hold an important meeting on Sunday, where Bandyopadhyay could be projected as one of the lead voices. Plans are also reportedly underway for the rebel lawmakers to call on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, with a possible request for recognition as a separate parliamentary group.

From Lok Sabha leader to rebel face

Bandyopadhyay's political trajectory within the party has been closely watched in recent months. He had earlier served as the Trinamool Congress's leader in the Lok Sabha, a position he gave up after health setbacks, with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee subsequently handing the charge to Abhishek Banerjee. His latest meetings in Delhi have now raised questions about whether he could take on a leadership role within the breakaway group, should one formally take shape.

Curiosity over direct Shah meeting

While several rebel TMC MPs have met Bhupender Yadav in recent weeks, a direct meeting with the Union Home Minister marks a new development. Political observers say Bandyopadhyay's outreach to Shah signals a deepening of his ties with sections opposed to the current Trinamool leadership, and could shape the contours of any future bloc in Parliament.

Party colleagues hit out

The development has not gone unnoticed within the TMC. Senior leaders Kunal Ghosh and Kalyan Banerjee have publicly criticised Bandyopadhyay over his reported proximity to the dissident MPs, pointing to the widening cracks within the party's parliamentary unit.

With the rebel camp's numbers reportedly swelling and key meetings lined up over the coming days, all eyes will be on whether Bandyopadhyay's Delhi visit translates into a more formal role within the group — and how the Trinamool leadership responds to the growing internal dissent.

The political temperature in West Bengal rose sharply on Saturday after reports emerged that veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay met senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi. The development has triggered fresh speculation about a possible shift in political allegiance by one of the TMC’s most experienced parliamentarians at a time when the party is grappling with internal challenges and mounting pressure from investigative agencies.

According to sources, Bandyopadhyay was accompanied by TMC MP Satabdi Roy during the meeting at Yadav’s residence in the national capital. The discussion reportedly lasted for a considerable period, fueling rumors that a significant political decision could be on the horizon.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of growing turbulence within the Trinamool Congress following its disappointing performance in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Reports suggest that several party legislators and parliamentarians have distanced themselves from the current leadership, raising questions about the party’s internal cohesion.

Political Speculation Intensifies

Sources familiar with the developments claim that a section of rebel TMC MPs has already conveyed support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and communicated their position to the Lok Sabha Speaker. If Bandyopadhyay were to join the group, it could further weaken the TMC’s parliamentary strength and strengthen the BJP’s position in West Bengal politics.

Neither Bandyopadhyay nor the BJP has officially commented on the reports. However, the timing of the meeting has attracted significant political attention, particularly as the state prepares for a new phase of political realignment following the Assembly election outcome.

Political observers believe the next few days could prove crucial in determining whether the meeting was merely exploratory or part of a larger political move.

Investigations Add Pressure

The political speculation coincided with dramatic developments involving TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. A large contingent of West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police personnel reached Banerjee’s Kalighat residence in the early hours of Saturday. Central Armed Police Force personnel were also deployed outside the premises.

According to local sources, police officers arrived shortly after 3 a.m. and remained at the residence for several hours. While the purpose of the operation has not been officially disclosed, a seizure list prepared after the search reportedly recorded no recovery of incriminating material. Under the section describing seized articles, the document reportedly carried the entry “NIL.”

The police action comes amid multiple investigations involving Banerjee. Earlier this week, he was questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for more than five hours in connection with an alleged Assembly signature forgery case. He has also been summoned again in connection with a separate cyber complaint.

Adding to the pressure, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Banerjee for questioning regarding the alleged primary teacher recruitment scam. Officials have scheduled his appearance before the agency on June 15.

Wider Probe Continues

The scrutiny of TMC leaders did not end there. On Saturday morning, ED officials conducted searches at several locations linked to TMC MLA Madan Mitra as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged municipal recruitment scam.

Search teams reportedly visited Mitra’s residences in Kamarhati and Bhawanipur, along with other locations connected to the probe. According to sources, searches were carried out across eight different premises.

The developments have intensified political debate in West Bengal, with opposition parties accusing the TMC leadership of facing increasing legal and administrative challenges. Meanwhile, TMC leaders have repeatedly alleged that investigative agencies are being used for political purposes, a charge denied by central authorities.