politics

Three Former TMC MPs, Including Sushmita Dev, Join BJP

Published on: 09 Jul 2026, 01:12 PM

Three former Rajya Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) — Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik — formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata on Thursday.

The induction took place at the state BJP headquarters in Salt Lake, where party president Samik Bhattacharya welcomed them by presenting BJP flags. Senior state leaders were present during the ceremony.

The three leaders had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and left the TMC last month, following the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections held earlier this year.

Mr. Bhattacharya said the experience of the three former parliamentarians would strengthen the BJP in the state. He did not specify any roles or responsibilities they would assume.

Ms. Dev, a former Union minister of state, was a prominent TMC face in Assam. Mr. Ray and Mr. Baraik were known for their organisational work in West Bengal. Their departure marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape, though the TMC has not commented on the development.

Source: The Hindu

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