The second-biggest mass leader of Trinamool Congress (TMC), Suvendu Adhikari joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday in the presence of former BJP chief and Home Minister Amit Shah. Nine MLAs joined the BJP with him, Financial Express (FE) reported.
Shah, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal earlier visited Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Ashram, Siddheshwari Temple and Mahamaya Temple. He also paid homage to revolutionary Khudiram Bose. He then had lunch at a farmer’s house at Belijuri village.
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Adhikari has considerable clout in over 40 assembly seats. The BJP is set to gain big time with his entry into the party, FE reported.
Mamta Banerjee said the deserters were a ‘baggage’ for the party. It was good that rotten elements were leaving on their own, she was quoted as saying. In a meeting with a select group of leaders at her residence, Banerjee told TMC leaders not to be ‘worried about the desertions’ as the people of the state are with them, FE reported quoting PTI.
“Our party supremo during the meeting told us not to be worried about the desertions as it is good that the rotten elements are leaving the party on their own. She said deserters were baggage for the party,” a senior TMC leader told PTI.
