New Delhi, July 19 -- Following the all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Sunday stated that the faction has sought formal recognition for the Nationalist Congress Party (India) (NCPI), asserting that it is the second-largest party within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Addressing reporters, Bandyopadhyay stated that a letter seeking recognition for the NCPI would be submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

"Today, NCPI is the second-largest party in the NDA. It is senior than Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar. We have asked that NCPI be recognised by the Election Commission. That letter is to be tabled before him (the Speaker), and that p...