In a political development that underscores the shifting loyalties in West Bengal, three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha members formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday and were promptly named as the party's candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-elections scheduled for July 24.
The trio - Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prakash Chik Baraik - resigned from their Rajya Sabha seats and the TMC last month, following the BJP's impressive victory in the state's assembly elections, where the saffron party secured a majority with 207 seats. Their move to the BJP and immediate fielding for the bypolls highlight the party's strategy to consolidate its gains in the upper house.
The formal induction took place at the BJP's state office in Kolkata, where the leaders were welcomed by senior party functionaries, including West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. Sources indicate that the decision reflects growing disillusionment among some TMC veterans with the party's internal dynamics and governance style post the assembly polls.
Sushmita Dev, who had previously served as a Lok Sabha MP from Assam's Silchar constituency and held positions in the Congress before joining TMC in 2021, expressed strong confidence in the BJP's vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She reportedly highlighted the central government's focus on development and took a swipe at certain TMC leaders over issues of accountability. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy cited similar concerns about the direction of his former party as a key reason for the switch.
This rapid transition from joining the party to receiving nominations is being seen as a clear signal of the BJP's intent to reward loyalty and bolster its numbers in the Rajya Sabha, potentially pushing its strength closer to 117 with these seats.
Adding to the day's political buzz, cricketer-turned-politician and TMC MP Yusuf Pathan was spotted at Nabanna, the state secretariat, meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The visit, which occurred around the same time as the high-profile defections, has sparked speculation about further realignments or discussions within the ruling dispensation. Pathan, the MP from Baharampur, described the meeting positively but provided limited details, leaving room for interpretation amid the fluid political landscape. The Rajya Sabha bypolls on July 24 will be a key test of the new alliances and the BJP's growing organisational footprint in the state.
