India, June 15 -- With 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs announcing their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), the Congress on Monday alleged that home minister Amit Shah "masterminded" what it called an "illegal breakaway" of legislators as part of a wider plan to secure a two-thirds majority for the NDA in the Lok Sabha.

The opposition party described the move as "bizarre", claiming it was a calculated political strategy with serious implications for parliamentary balance.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh launched a sharp attack on the Union home minister, accusing him of undermining democratic norms and constitutional values through the development.

In a post on X, Ramesh said: "A ...