TMC turncoats request to be back with ruling party

Prior to the Assembly elections held in April this year, the Trinamool Congress witnessed a mass exodus of its leaders to the BJP, creating doubts about the possibilities of a victory. However, Mamata Banerjee led TMC won 213 of 292 assembly seats while the BJP won 77.

Following the swearing-in of the new government, Trinamool has been witnessing reverse migration of its turncoats. While former MLA Sonali Guha wrote to Banerjee that she cannot live without her, Dipendu Biswas wrote saying he wants to take the TMC flag again. Others who raised likewise requests include Sarala Murmu, who left the party unhappy with the ticket offered to her, and Amal Acharya. Reports also say that ex-minister Rajib Banerjee is considering a return.

"Not only leaders, seven-to-eight winning MLAs and 3-4 sitting MPs of the BJP have expressed their wish to join the Trinamool Congress," Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told NDTV.

Mukul Roy, one of the earliest to leave the TMC, is rumoured to be considering a return as well after his son posted a Facebook status deemed critical of the BJP. While Roy himself has not said anything about the rumours, the BJP has denied the reports.

"There was a perception that the BJP is coming to power and the Trinamool will lose power. A lot of people joined our party crying, and now they are leaving laughing. People are watching this. People can see why they came to us and why they are leaving," said West Bengal BJP leader Shamik Bhattacharya.