The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday expelled two of its sitting Lok Sabha MPs — Anupam Hazra of Bolpur and Soumitra Khan of Bishnupur — alleging “lack of democracy and dynastic rule in Bengal”. Khan later joined the BJP.
Hazra who had developed serious differences with district TMC president Anubrata Mandal was expelled on charges of anti-party activities, senior leader and Minister Partho Chatterjee said.
“Anupam Hazra had been indulging in activities which are against the ideals and principles of the Trinamool Congress. He had been carrying out anti-party activities on the Facebook and other places. He was expelled from the party after this issue was raised before our party chief Mamata Banerjee,” said Chatterjee.
Refuting the charges against him, Hazra said, " "There was some issues regarding the use of FB but I deleted everything after I was asked to do so by the party. There has been no problem thereafter. Still the party has decided to level anti-party charges on me. I wonder how the party explains anti-party activities."
Hazra, a Shanitniketan professor, said there was no corruption charges against him. He went to add sarcastically, " "I was not involved in Narada or Sharada chit fund cases, either."
Khan the more vociferous of the two MPs cited "lack of democracy and dynastic rule," as his reasons for quitting his party and joining the BJP. When reminded that the TMC criminal charges were being brought against him the leader said "after I have quit the party they are now trying to frame me. They have already arrested my personal assistant non false charges."
Khan , said he was ready to take any responsibility for the BJP, which he joined in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He met BJP president Amit Shah in the morning before joining the saffron outfit, sources said.
Reacting sharply to Khan's allegations senior TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said "Soumitra Khan is nothing without the Trinamool Congress. He has no credibility without the party. He cannot win even from a single booth."
Asking as to "why he did not raise these questions earlier," Abhishek , who is also the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said "first ask him to win one election single-handedly and then raise a point. This time the BJP will win not a single seat from Bengal."
Meanwhile, a senior State BJP leaders said six more TMC MPs were waiting to cross the hedge and join the BJP.