On the brink of the general elections 2019, BJP has successfully managed to impress several members from other parties to shift loyalties and join the saffron party.
New Delhi: It wasn't just Maharashtra and Gujarat that saw people leave their parties and join BJP. Bengal too witnessed the same. One sitting MLA of CPI(M), an MP of TMC and a sitting MLA of Congress today joined the BJP in presence of the party leadership.
Congress MLA Dulal Chandra Bar and CPI(M) MLA Khagen Murmu joined the BJP along with TMC MP Anupam Hazra. As the trio was formally welcomed into the BJP fold, Mukul Roy remarked, "This is just the trailer. The movie is yet to come. And when it comes, you will be surprised." BJP's Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, who has been instrumental in all the back-channel talks that led to Tuesday's mega coup, was also present.
Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Anupam Hazra joins BJP. pic.twitter.com/sKLiirkBBo
— ANI (@ANI)Mukul Roy further alleged," There is an atmosphere of fear in Bengal. The entire state is now a police state. Intimidation is at its worst. The moment TMC learnt about Hazra joining BJP, they started targeting him."
This is not the first time BJP has made a coup of sorts in Bengal. Earlier, Mukul Roy himself, who was a Mamata confidante was welcomed into the party fold. Very recently former cop Bharati Ghosh and sidelined TMC leader Shanku Deb were also inducted into the BJP.
There are also talks going on about former Kolkata mayor and his 'good friend' Baishakhi Bandophyaya joining the BJP. The latter held closed-door meeting with the likes of Vijayvargiya, more than once, last week.
Sources in the BJP say, more leaders from the opposition will be taken in the coming days, in the run-up to 2019 general elections.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee announced her list of candidates for 42 Parliamentary constituencies in Bengal, which looked more of a star power. Apart from movie star of yesteryears, Moon Moon Sen who is fielded from Asansol, Tollywood actress Mimi Chakraborty is fielded from the Jadavpur seat. Asansol is heading for a virtual star war with Moon Moon Sen and BJPs Babul Supriyo clashing. Also, model and actress Nusrat Kahan is fielded from Barasat, where sitting MP Idrees Ali is being replaced.
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