Ex-Rajya Sabha MP, Chandan Mitra resigns from BJP
What's the story
Former Rajya Sabha MP and current editor of The Pioneer, Chandan Mitra, has resigned from the BJP and is slated to join the Trinamool Congress when West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee holds her annual mega rally on Saturday. Mitra, who is close to BJP veteran LK Advani, reportedly resigned from the BJP discontented, after being sidelined by the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah leadership. Here's more.
BJP stint
Mitra had described his BJP candidacy as "accidental"
Mitra had contested the 2016 West Bengal assembly elections from the Hooghly seat on a BJP ticket. However, he had lost to a Trinamool Congress candidate. He reportedly, in a first-person account, had described his nomination by the BJP as "accidental", explaining how he had sought advice from his "friend" Arun Jaitley about whether he should "take the plunge".
Discontent
Mitra had never shied away from criticizing the BJP
Reportedly, the two-time Rajya Sabha MP has already submitted his resignation, but it's unclear whether BJP chief Amit Shah has accepted it. Mitra had been a prominent face of the BJP in Delhi circles, but never shied away from criticizing the saffron party when he deemed fit. Additionally, it's believed that Mitra also expressed dissatisfaction about some of BJP's policies in his resignation letter.
Joining TMC
TMC and Mitra have been tight-lipped about a tie up
As it stands, a significant number of Congress legislators are slated to be among the new faces to joint Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Saturday. While both TMC and Mitra have been tight-lipped about the possibility of Mitra's joining, it's believed that Mitra will be among the new faces promised by Mamata Banerjee. If it pans out, Mitra will be a strong addition.