BJP in ICU in Bengal? More defection to TMC likely in coming days

Kolkata: As the reverse flow of members from BJP to Trinamool in West Bengal continues, the absence of 24 MLAs in the delegation of BJP MLAs to the Governor led by the opposition party leader Suvendu Adhikari further sparked the speculation of more defection to TMC in the coming days.

Suvendu Adhikari along with BJP MLAs met Governor Jagdeep Dhankar at the Raj Bhavan to apprise several inappropriate incidents happening in Bengal and discuss other important matters.

But with 24 of the BJP's 74 MLAs failing to accompany Adhikari, the matter also gave credence to the view that not all MLAs were ready to accept Suvendu Adhikari's leadership. Quoting sources, an NDTV report said that several MLAs are upset and some are indeed in touch with the Trinamool, hoping to return following the footsteps of Mukul Roy.

After, Roy returned to the ruling party in Bengal, several other leaders, including Rajib Banerjee, Dipendu Biswas and Subhrangshu Roy, are expected to follow suit.

Earlier, leaders like Sonali Guha and Dipendu Biswas had openly said that they wished to return to the party and sought the Chief Minister's forgiveness

Meanwhile, fuelling further speculation, on Monday evening, ex-mayor of Kolkata Sovon Chatterjee made a courtesy visit to the residence of his former Trinamool Congress colleague Partha Chatterjee, a day after the senior state minister lost his mother.

Sovon Chatterjee, who had joined the BJP only to leave it before assembly polls, reached the house of the TMC secretary-general in the evening and expressed his condolences. He was accompanied by his friend Baisakhi Banerjee

Chatterjee, reacting to the query whether there was any possibility of his returning to TMC, said it is not the place or time to discuss such issues, reported PTI

Baisakhi Banerjee who accompanied Chatterjee, however, thanked TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for standing by Sovon Chatterjee after he was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Narada sting operation case along with three other leaders.

"This shows that Didi's love remains the same for us. Personal ties go beyond politics," she added

Several other TMC leaders who had joined the BJP have indicated willingness to return to the Mamata Banerjee-led party after it swept the election.