Five rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have joined the BJP in what can be termed a major development ahead of the state assembly elections in West Bengal.
The state assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled to take place in April-May this year.
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The Trinamool Congress leaders who defected from the party are former West Bengal minister Rajib Banerjee, Baishali Dalmiya, former Howrah mayor Rathin Chakraborty, former MLA Prabir Ghoshal and actor Rudranil Ghosh
The leaders were inducted into the saffron party in New Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday.
“Former TMC leaders Mr. Rajib Banerjee, Ms. Baishali Dalmiya, Mr. Prabir Ghoshal, Mr. Rathin Chakraborti and Mr. Rudranil Ghosh joined BJP today in New Delhi. I am sure their induction will further strengthen BJP’s fight for Sonar Bangla,” Amit Shah tweeted.
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Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargiya said that people have realized that the TMC has only misled them so far.
“Under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP will constitute a government in West Bengal, transforming the state into Sonar Bangla,” a quoted Vijaywargiya as saying.
While Rajib Banerjee had resigned from the Domjur assembly seat in Howrah on Friday, Baishali Dalmiya, the sitting MLA from Bally in Howrah was recently expelled by the TMC.
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Prabir Ghosal is the MLA from Uttarpara in Hooghly district and Rathin Chakraborty is the former mayor of Howrah town.
Rudranil Ghosh, who earlier supported the CPI(M) had joined the TMC after Mamata Banerjee came to power in West Bengal.
Banerjee is the second minister from Howrah district and the third minister in the state to resign ahead of the crucial state elections.
The Union home minister had to cancel his scheduled visit to Kolkata on January 29 following the small blast near the Israeli embassy New Delhi.
He was to participate in BJP rally in Howrah on Sunday.