Days after results, 2 Trinamool MLAs, 50+ councilors join BJP
What's the story
In a major setback to Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee, two MLAs of her party and over 50 councilors joined BJP on Tuesday.
One MLA of CPM also joined the saffron party. After induction, they chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.
The mass switch was led by Trinamool turncoat Mukul Roy's son Subhranshu. BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya was also present at the event.
Joining
Subhranshu joined BJP after being expelled from Trinamool
Apart from Subhranshu, the other two legislators who joined BJP were Sunil Singh from Noapara and Barrackpore's Shilbhadra Dutta.
Last week, Subhranshu was expelled from Trinamool for six years. He was accused of indulging in anti-party activities.
Leaving Trinamool, he had said he would follow his father's footsteps soon. He had also claimed that he would be able to "breathe now".
Disappointment
A leader said there is no democracy in Trinamool
Subhranshu's deflection is one of the reasons why so many leaders ditched Trinamool.
Halisahar Municipality chairperson Anshuman Roy said Subhranshu was expelled on May 24, just a day after results of Lok Sabha elections were declared.
"There is no democracy in the Trinamool. So, we have come to Delhi to express our solidarity and join the BJP," Roy told HT.
Reaction
People are liking BJP, said another councilor
TMC councilor from Garifa (Ward number 6), Ruby Chatterjee, said as many as 20 councilors might join BJP. She said BJP's performance in Lok Sabha polls forced them to take the decision.
"People are liking BJP as they are working for them," she said.
Separately, Makhan Singh of Kancharapara municipality said they had high hopes from Trinamool, but not anymore.
Twitter Post
Not upset with Mamata ji: Garifa
Ruby Chatterjee, TMC councillor from Garifa (West Bengal), ward no 6 says, "20 councillors are here in Delhi. We are not upset with Mamata ji but the recent victory of BJP in Bengal has influenced us to join the party. People are liking BJP as they are working for them." pic.twitter.com/qpYCCmS4HF
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2019
Changing dynamics
BJP, which had nominal presence in Bengal, scripted history
To recall, May 23 brought truckload of happiness for BJP. The party won 303 seats in Lok Sabha, and improved its tally in West Bengal, exceptionally.
In 2014, BJP won only 2 seats in Bengal and this time it won 18. Meanwhile, Trinamool's count went from 34 in 2014 to 22 this time.
Last week, Mamata called an emergency meeting to assess the defeat.
Statement
Like elections, 'joining' will happen in phases, flaunted Vijayvargiya
Speaking on the recent development, Vijayvargiya said this is just the beginning.
"Like the elections were held in seven phases in West Bengal, joinings in BJP will also happen in seven phases. Today was just the first phase," he told media.
Meanwhile, Mukul Roy claimed Trinamool will not even get the opposition party's position after 2021 assembly polls in Bengal.
Looking back
Earlier, Modi had claimed Trinamool leaders would leave Mamata
When the campaign was at its peak, Narendra Modi, who will take oath as Prime Minister on May 30, said 40 Trinamool leaders were in touch with him.
"Didi, on 23 May, the day of results, the lotus will bloom everywhere and your MLAs will leave you and run," he had said.
Subsequently, Mamata had asked him to find "even one". Looks like he found many.