A modest two-storey house in Hatgachi village of Howrah district, West Bengal, has unexpectedly become the focal point of a major political development after 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

The building serves as the registered office of the NCPI, a small and largely unknown political party founded in January 2023 by a group of professionals and social activists, including Uttiya Kundu and advocate Shewly Kundu.

Until recently, the party had little public visibility and had only contested a few elections, including some seats in the 2023 Tripura Assembly election and local polls in West Bengal.

Following the merger announcement, however, the NCPI suddenly gained national attention and, according to the report, became the fifth-largest party in the Lok Sabha by strength.Local residents said they were aware that the premises housed a political organisation but knew very little about its activities.

Interestingly, several NCPI office-bearers claimed they were initially unaware of the merger discussions and expressed confusion regarding who within the party had authorised such talks.Party leaders later acknowledged internal discussions on the matter and indicated willingness to work with the rebel MPs.

The political turmoil follows the TMC's reported defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly election, after which a large group of MLAs allegedly broke away from the party.The NCPI's sudden rise from obscurity highlights the dramatic nature of the ongoing political realignment in West Bengal.