Three Ex-TMC MPs Join BJP, Set to Return to Rajya Sabha via Bypolls

Three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha members — Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik — joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, weeks after resigning from the TMC. The BJP subsequently announced them as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls from West Bengal, a move made possible by the party's strength in the state assembly.

This induction marks the BJP's first acceptance of former TMC leaders since its victory in the West Bengal assembly elections in May. The decision signals a shift from the party's earlier policy of closing its doors to TMC rebels. According to BJP sources, while not all defectors will be absorbed, those with an 'untainted image' may be considered.

The TMC has seen a series of rebellions after the election. First, 60 of its 80 MLAs broke away under Ritabrata Banerjee, claiming to be the 'real TMC'. Then, 20 Lok Sabha MPs merged with the little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and backed the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The three former Rajya Sabha MPs took a different route, and the party now faces three distinct rebel camps.

BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya commented on the induction, stating, 'The exception proves the law. The decision of the party leadership is supreme in the BJP. Those who are corrupt in the TMC, the BJP's doors are closed for them. Don't say they are TMC, their identity is not TMC.'

A senior BJP leader added, 'We are a political party and our leadership takes decisions based on distinctive aims and understanding. Our approach towards TMC rebels is not uniform since the erosion of that party has taken place at different levels. For these three MPs, we have decided to allow them to represent us in the Rajya Sabha. They are suitable for the job. This is a message to other good TMC leaders. However, we will never accept tainted TMC workers or leaders.'

The TMC, already dealing with desertions and investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Enforcement Directorate, found this latest crossover damaging. TMC MP Sougata Roy, a Mamata loyalist, said, 'This was expected. They were with them (BJP). They did it to save their Rajya Sabha seats. This is no loss to the TMC and I doubt any gains for the BJP too. Those turncoats have no value in the eyes of the people.'

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh added, 'Sukhendu Roy is a senior leader. After 2011, Mamata Banerjee made him a Rajya Sabha member. But just as the party was in the opposition benches, they chose to leave. He expressed many complaints. Interestingly, when Mamata Banerjee was the chief minister, no such complaint came from him.'

Akhruzzaman, chief whip of the rebel TMC MLAs, questioned the BJP's consistency: 'These three MPs resigned from the TMC one month ago. They are not TMC leaders now. Why the BJP accepted them will only be explained by the BJP. The BJP state president said 'egg therapy' is not their culture. Even after that, the BJP is throwing eggs. So the BJP is not keeping its word.'

In the Lok Sabha, 20 rebel TMC MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar have written to Speaker Om Birla, seeking to merge with the NCPI and back the NDA. This could provide crucial support to the BJP during the monsoon session and further marginalize the Mamata camp.