Five former TMC leaders join BJP

Kolkata/New Delhi, January 30

Former West Bengal minister Rajib Banerjee, who recently quit the Trinamool Congress, joined the BJP in the national capital 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.

Banerjee and MLAs Prabir Ghosal and Baishali Dalmiya, who was recently expelled from the TMC, former Howrah Mayor Rathin Chakraborty and actor Rudranil Ghosh flew to the national capital on a special plane, and met central BJP leaders.

They have joined the BJP, party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said following the meeting.

Later, Shah tweeted, “I am sure their induction will further strengthen the BJP’s fight for Sonar Bangla.”

Former TMC MLA Parthasarathi Chattopadhyay had also accompanied the leaders to Delhi.

The TMC, which has been facing dissent from a number of leaders ahead of the Assembly election due in April-May, said those who are leaving do not have long political history. — PTI