Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh has said that 3800 workers of various parties joined the ‘BJP family’ during a rally in the Asansol district on Monday. This comes two days after 10 MLAs of various parties, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee former close aide Suvendu Adhikari, as well as a TMC MP joined the saffron party in presence of Amit Shah.
“3800 Workers from different parties joined “BJP Family" at Raniganj in Asansol Organisational District. We welcome you all to the world’s largest political family. Together we will build “Sonar Bangla”,” Dilip Ghosh said in a tweet.
3800 Workers from different parties joined “BJP Family" at Raniganj in Asansol Organisational District.
— Dilip Ghosh (@DilipGhoshBJP) December 21, 2020
We welcome you all to the world’s largest political family. Together we will build “Sonar Bangla”.#BJPJogdanMela pic.twitter.com/oPnZyoJAhX
The BJP and TMC are currently locked in a fierce battle in West Bengal. This battle is not likely to end before the state Assembly elections due in April/May next year. The BJP, which made considerable gains in Bengal during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, hopes to make its first government in the state.
As the BJP has focused its resources on Battle Bengal, the TMC camp has been rocked by a string of desertions. Among the 10 MLAs who joined the BJP on Saturday, six were from TMC. The TMC MLAs who joined BJP included: Suvendu Adhikari, Saikat Panja, Shilbhadra Dutta, Sukra Munda, Biswajit Kundu and Banasri Maity. Two-time TMC MP from Bardhaman Purba Lok Sabha constituency Sunil Mondal also joined the BJP on Saturday.
TMC MLA from Asansol’s Pandaveswar Jitendra Tiwari, who has also quit the Mamata Banerjee-led ruling party, may however not get to join the BJP.
BJP MP from Asansol Babul Supiryo has opposed his entry into the BJP. Taking to Facebook, the Union minister said he would try his best to ensure that TMC leaders, who had in the past "tortured" grassroots BJP activists, do not get to join his party.
"What my Top Bosses decide is a different thing, but I will try my very best with all my might & honesty to ensure that NO #TMC leader who tormented, tortured (both Physically & Mentally) my grass root level BJP colleagues in Asansol, don't get an entry in BJP !! (sic)," he said.