Kolkata, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : Samik Bhattacharya, the president of the West Bengal BJP and a member of the Rajya Sabha, rejected claims on Monday that 20 Lok Sabha members from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would join the BJP. He suggested that the party these MPs wish to join might as well be from Mars.
His comments came in response to remarks made by Jagdish Chandra Barma Basunia, a prominent member of the group that recently shifted from TMC to the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). Basunia had claimed that 17 of the 20 MPs would join the BJP next month.
In a sharp rebuttal, Bhattacharya stated, “We will never forget what happened to many BJP workers after the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections. Thus, there is no reason to believe that we would accept them if they want to join the BJP. The BJP they want to join may well be one from Mars.”
He further clarified that there is no chance of any faction from the TMC joining the BJP in the near or distant future. Bhattacharya emphasized that the people of West Bengal have not forgotten the oppressive period under TMC rule from 2011 to 2026. He welcomed any MPs who have separated from the TMC and support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but stressed that this does not equate to joining the BJP.
While acknowledging Basunia’s desire to join, he stated there is no reason to think the BJP leadership would fulfill that wish. He recounted the violence faced by BJP workers, claiming, “In just 27 days after May 2, 2021, TMC-backed goons killed 56 BJP workers. Around 200 women workers faced sexual violence, and many BJP supporters were forced to leave their homes.”
Bhattacharya insisted that these memories are not easily erased, making it unreasonable to think that the past could be so easily forgiven. Earlier in the day, Basunia mentioned that three Lok Sabha members from his faction—Abu Tahir Khan from Murshidabad, Yusuf Pathan from Baharampur, and Khalilur Rahman from Jangipur—faced difficulties in directly joining the BJP. They indicated they would remain part of the NDA instead.
Responding to the situation, Khan stated that Basunia should focus on his own responsibilities rather than speaking for others. He added, “We have not given him any responsibility. This was his personal opinion and does not reflect ours. We are not part of the BJP or the NDA; we are focused on our work in our respective areas.”
Tensions within the political landscape of West Bengal continue as parties navigate shifting alliances and past grievances.
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