In a major jolt to Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, its MP Saumitra Khan joined BJP on Wednesday. He alleged that under the TMC regime there is no democracy in Bengal and it has lapsed into “police raj.” Khan was elected as an MP on a TMC ticket from the Bishnupur constituency in Bankura district in 2014. He was also a Congress MLA from the Kotulpur Assembly constituency in the same district from 2011 to 2014 after which he joined TMC. He was summarily expelled from TMC.
“ Democracy is being murdered in West Bengal under the TMC regime. People have not been able to vote properly in several elections after TMC came to power in 2011. I cannot stay in such a party,” said Khan. Khan also lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He was speaking to journalists at the BJP head office in Delhi.
Khan said that he firmly believes in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was confident that BJP will bring in change in Bengal.
“ I have full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The time has come when BJP will usher in change in Bengal,” said Khan.
He further alleged that under the TMC government law and order situation has steadily deteriorated in Bengal and the ruling party in the state was “supporting anti-social elements.”
“ Elections are held in every state of the country peacefully with the exception of Bengal. Even during the panchayat elections, several people were killed,” said Khan.
He is the second major TMC leader to join BJP. Former TMC general secretary and MP Mukul Roy joined BJP in November 2017. Khan is known to be close to Roy.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who announced that Khan has joined BJP said that BJP has been steadily gaining grounds in Eastern India including West Bengal and that the states in the region will play a key role in BJP’s returning to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“ The credibility of BJP is at an all-time high in Eastern India which will play key role in our returning to power in 2019,” said Pradhan BJP president Amit Shah has set the target of 22 seats from Bengal for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Expelled from TMC
Khan was expelled from TMC along with another MP Anupam Hazra of Bolupr Lok Sabha seat in Birbhum district during the day. “ Khan was getting involved in several controversies and did not have any contact with the party. We have expelled Khan and Hazra after discussing the matter with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” TMC secretary general and Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said. He was speaking to journalists in Nadia district.
As for the reason behind Hazra’s expulsion Chatterjee said that “ he has made several comments on facebook and got involved in activities which go against the party’s discipline. So we have expelled him.”