Rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy and Prakash Chik Baraik formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata on Thursday (July 9). The move was expected to come just weeks after the three leaders resigned from TMC amid growing rebellion within Mamata’s party Trinamool. These three leaders were inducted into the BJP at the party’s Salt Lake office in the presence of West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya and other senior leaders.
Samik Bhattacharya welcomed the three leaders by giving them BJP flags and said that their political experience will strengthen the BJP in the state. The joining of the three rebel leaders to the BJP comes at a time when the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is facing infighting after its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.
What did the leaders say after joining BJP
- Sukhendu Shekhar Rai said, during the time of RG Kar, he alone opposed the Parliament. There are 800 MPs in the country but nowadays no one has raised their voice. I was the only one who raised my voice and that is why I was repeatedly called to Lal Bazaar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police. The people who are always on TV also did not say anything. I was also given death threats. BJP is against the corruption of Trinamool, that is why I joined BJP. The less said about the future of Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress, the better.
- Sushmita Dev said, “I have joined BJP only after seeing the growth and development. It is very simple. If you are dedicated to the organization and want to serve the people, then BJP is the only party which works on the basis of merit and not on the basis of favoritism, ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ or factionalism. If you look at the INDIA alliance and the parties included in it, everything there is a game of factionalism and ‘Kitchen Cabinet’.”TMC After leaving, Sushmita Dev said that her decision was based on both political and personal reasons. Why I left TMC is a long story. I don’t want to be in a situation where I am in two boats at once. I will not comment on Mamata didi.”
- All three leaders had resigned from the post of TMC and Rajya Sabha leaders last month. Shortly after Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Prakash Chik Baraik also resigned from the Rajya Sabha, further increasing concerns about dissent within the TMC. Baraik wrote in his letter, “I hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha. Please accept my resignation with immediate effect.”
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Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Shekhar and Prakash Chik Badaik, three MPs who left TMC join BJP
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