Barely a week ago, more than 50 councillors predominantly from the Trinamool Congress joined the BJP in Delhi. TMC immediately turned into a public spectacle
New Delhi: After an exodus of sorts from TMC, 17 councillors of the Darjeeling municipality joined the BJP on Saturday. This gave the BJP, which has been on an offensive in Bengal, a majority in the local body. The move is significant because all of them have been associated with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, a aprty taht supported the BJP in the Lok Sabha election in Darjeeling.
In the 32-member Darjeeling municipality, the Bharatiya Janata Party now enjoys a majority, Mukul Roy said, noting that two seats are vacant in the body. The BJP will organise a big demonstration in the hill state in the coming days, Roy added.
Barely a week ago, more than 50 councillors predominantly from Trinamool Congress joined the BJP in Delhi. TMC immediately turned into a public spectacle. Roy claimed back then that three municipalities would be immediately affected after the exodus.
Also read: 6 more TMC MLAs likely to jump ship to BJP
On Saturday, after the formal induction in BJP headquarters in Delhi, Mukul Roy accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee of using the police to harass elected members and their supporters. He said, "Our battle to save democracy in the state continues. People's mandate went against the chief minister in the Lok Sabha polls, but she is now using 'police raj' to harass BJP workers and supporters,".
17 Councillors of Darjeeling Municipality join Bharatiya Janata Party in presence of Shri . pic.twitter.com/yElRjWuNmF
— BJP (@BJP4India)BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is the party's state in charge, also targeted Banerjee for her alleged attack on various institutions.
The BJP has won 18 of the state's 42 seats, its best ever show, while the TMC won 22.
Also read: Mamata bans BJP 's victory celebration in Bengal
After the violence ridden election was completed, many BJP cadre were killed in the state allegedly by TMC. One deceased was identified as Chandan Shaw who was found killed in Bhatpara area from Barrackpore constituency.
Just days before that alleged murder, another 22-year-old BJP worker was allegedly shot dead by the ruling Trinamool cadre in the state. That incident occurred in Chakdah area of Bengal. Meanwhile, TMC too had claimed that two of its cadre were killed by the BJP after the election results were declared.
Interestingly, during the election campaign, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had vowed revenge. Mamata had threatened during the election campaigning, "I will remember everything. The atrocities and humiliations heaped on my state, and it will not go unpunished. I have all the records and documents with me. I will take revenge for what is being done to me inch by inch. All those who are perpetrating the offence should remember this".
Also read: Second BJP cadre killed in 3 days in Bengal! Mamata's 'inch by inch' effect?
BJP making inroads in Bengal since the panchayat election followed by the quick success in the Lok Sabha eelction has created a tense situation in the state. The TMC unwilling to let go of their domain, is making the situation worse.
With Inputs from PTI
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