Three ex-TMC MPs join BJP

Former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik joined the BJP on Thursday evening in the presence of State BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya. Within hours, they were named the saffron party's candidates for the Rajya Sabha bypolls from West Bengal, underlining their political rehabilitation.

"Three very deserving leaders, Mr Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Ms Sushmita Dev and Mr Prakash Chik Baraik, have today joined the BJP today. There is no need to refer to their past affiliations as even Sadhus have their pasts…," Bhattacharya said.

“Today and at present, they are BJP members and would work for the progress of West Bengal under the leadership of world's most popular leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added.

Welcoming the three leaders at the party's Salt Lake office, Bhattacharya refused to dwell on whether more TMC leaders would follow suit.

Roy, who had been complaining of victimization within the TMC, had recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha, citing rampant corruption in the party. His joining comes days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a closed-door meeting with him during his visit to Kolkata on the 125th anniversary of Jana Sangh founder Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee early this week.

"West Bengal has thus far been ruled by the political parties like the Left, the Trinamool Congress… this is the first time that we have a State Government that strives to work for its overall development so as to realize its full potentials that we have in skilled labour, minerals, three international borders, good agriculture and market … the three leaders who have joined us will work towards achieving the dreams of Dr Mookerjee of one united India," Bhattacharya said.