Kolkata, June 15 -- TMC rebel MP Asit Kumar Mal on Monday defended the decision of 20 Lok Sabha MPs to break away from the Trinamool Congress and merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), saying the group was formed to work in the interests of the people and promote regional development.

Speaking amid the political turmoil within the party and MPs' support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mal said, "20 Lok Sabha MPs have signed to form a group dedicated to the best interests of the people and regional development. We believe that the government's programs will benefit the public, which is why we are supporting them."

Explaining the rationale behind the move, he added, "The TMC no longer seems to exist, so the ...