Former TMC Leaders Join BJP in Kolkata

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, Mamata Banerjee and Prakash Chik Baraik (L-R)

NEW DELHI: Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata on Thursday, weeks after resigning from the TMC amid growing rebellion within the party.

The 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.

Bhattacharya welcomed them by presenting BJP flags and said their political experience would strengthen the party in the state.

Their induction comes as the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC continues to face internal turmoil following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.

The crisis began after a large group of MLAs broke away under the leadership of expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, with several MPs also backing the rival camp.

Rebel MPs have sought separate seating arrangements in Parliament and have held meetings with senior BJP leaders, fuelling speculation about more defections.

Reacting to the development, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said the party had given Sukhendu Sekhar Ray political opportunities that he did not receive before joining the TMC.

Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, "See everyone knows that Sukhendu Sekhar, who is a senior leader, prior to 2011, he never became MP or MLA. Respecting him, Mamata Banerjee sent him to Rajya Sabha. Today he joined BJP... They did not leave when Mamata Banerjee was the CM, public is seeing everything."

The three leaders had resigned from both the TMC and as Rajya Sabha leaders last month.

After quitting the party, Sushmita Dev said her decision was based on both political and personal reasons.

"It is a long story why I left TMC. I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats at the same time. I will not comment on Mamata Didi," she had said.

She added, "I had political and personal reasons to do this. In an independent country, a politician can take any decision in their political life. I express gratitude towards the people of Bengal, but I have to work in Assam."

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who was among the first senior leaders to resign, had launched a sharp attack on the TMC after stepping down.

He blamed the party's electoral defeat on what he described as years of poor governance and had also alleged that he could have been targeted had he resigned during the RG Kar hospital controversy.

"I have met Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted my resignation. I have conveyed my decision to resigning from the party through WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee. I had my tenure till 2029 in the Rajya Sabha, but I have resigned in principle from the party as it would be difficult for me to continue," he added further," Ray wrote in his resignation letter.

Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Rajya Sabha shortly after Dev and Ray, further deepening concerns over dissent within the TMC.

"I hereby resign from the membership of the Rajya Sabha. Kindly accept my resignation with immediate effect," Baraik wrote in his letter.

The political crisis has intensified in recent weeks, with reports suggesting that around 20 Lok Sabha MPs have aligned with the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

The dissident camp has claimed it represents the "real TMC" while ruling out any merger with the Congress.

Meanwhile, Mamata in a video address accused the rival faction of betraying the party.

"People shouldn't forgive TMC leaders who are traitors, sided with BJP; don't try to sail on two boats, there's still time to look back and address barbarity," she said.