Former West Bengal Minister Rajib Banerjee, who recently quit the Trinamool Congress, joined the BJP in Delhi on Saturday along with a few other leaders of the State’s ruling party after meeting senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. BJP president JP Nadda is away in Tamil Nadu.
The TMC leaders flew in here by a special plane.
Banerjee and MLAs Prabir Ghosal and Baishali Dalmiya, who was recently expelled from the TMC, and former Howrah Mayor Rathin Chakraborty met senior central BJP leaders before they were inducted into the party.
“They have joined the BJP,” party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said following the meeting.
Former TMC MLA Parthasarathi Chattopadhyay and actor Rudranil Ghosh had also accompanied them on their visit to meet BJP leaders in the national Capital. BJP national vice-president Mukul Roy and Vijayvargiya arrived in Delhi with them.
The TMC, which has been facing exodus of a number of leaders ahead of the Assembly election due in April-May, said that those who are leaving do not have long political history.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee said he had a word with Union Home Minister Amit Shah who called him to Delhi.
“After I resigned from the TMC, I received a call from the BJP leadership.... Amit Shah ji told me to come over to Delhi. He also requested me to pass on the information to five other important public figures who wanted to serve people in a better way to accompany me. “If I get an assurance on the State's development, if I get an assurance that I can work for the betterment of people, I will join the BJP,” he told reporters at the Kolkata airport.
The TMC in West Bengal was on Friday rocked by a fresh bout of desertions as Banerjee quit the party and several other leaders rallied behind him, deepening the crisis in the party.
The desertions took place just hours before the now cancelled two-day tour of Union Home Minister to the State.
When asked what role he expects to play in the BJP, Banerjee said it is for the party to decide.
“I want to work for the people. So whatever role is assigned to me, I will accept,” he said.
The TMC in West Bengal was on Friday rocked by a fresh bout of desertions as Banerjee quit the party and several other leaders rallied behind him, deepening the crisis in the party.
The desertions took place just hours before the now cancelled two-day tour of Union Home Minister to the state.