Suvendu joins BJP in presence of Amit Shah, blasts TMC, party labels him ’traitor’
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Dec 19, 2020: In a major jolt to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, one of Mamata Banerjee’s most trusted aides and party heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Union minister Amit Shah in Paschim Midnapore district where Shah also addressed a rally.
Amit Shah landed in Kolkata on Saturday for a two-day visit to West Bengal to take stock of the BJP’s affairs in the state, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
The Union home minister offered puja at a local temple and had lunch at the house of a farmer in Paschim Midnapore district as part of his exercise to strengthen relations with the agriculturists ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.
Amit Shah then addressed a rally in Paschim Midnapore, during which he welcomed Suvendu Adhikari along with nine MLAs of different parties and a TMC MP to the BJP.
Addressing the rally, Amit Shah launched a scathing attack at West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, saying that she will be "left alone" by the time elections come in the state.
Here are the latest developments, in 10 points:
1. Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning for his two-day West Bengal tour to take stock of the BJP’s affairs in the state, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Amit Shah visited a local temple and then had lunch at a farmer’s house in Paschim Midnapore district. This comes at a time when the BJP-led Central government has been trying for days to convince the protesting farmers at Delhi borders to have faith in the farm laws.
2. One of Mamata Banerjee’s most trusted aides and face of the Nandigram movement in Bengal that catapulted TMC to power in the state 10 years ago, Suvendu Adhikari, joined BJP in presence of Amit Shah during the BJP rally in Paschim Midnapore. Nine MLAs of different parties and a TMC MP also joined the BJP.
3. Moments before he was formally inducted into the BJP, Suvendu Adhikari wrote an open letter to his followers within the TMC. Addressing “grassroot members” of the TMC as “My fellow sisters and brothers & colleagues of West Bengal” Adhikari lashes out at his former party leadership in the letter. Suvendu Adhikari said that the party was not built in one day with the contribution of one person. "It is therefore especially painful, that the individuals currently in charge of the party are treating it like their personal fiefdom," he said.
4. Along with Suvendu Adhikari, five other MLAs and an MP of TMC, two of CPM, and one each from the CPI and the Congress also joined the BJP on Saturday. Those who joined BJP are: Tapasi Mondal (CPM), Ashoke Dinda (CPI), Sudip Mukherjee (INC), Saikat Panja (TMC), Shilbhadra Dutta (TMC), Dipali Biswas (CPM), Sukra Munda (TMC), Biswajit Kundu (TMC), and Banasri Maity (TMC).
5. After welcoming Suvendu Adhikar and the nine other MLAs to the BJP, Amit Shah addressed the rally in Paschim Midnapore and launched a scathing attack at Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. On TMC leaders’ exit from the party and TMC’s accusation of inducing the part members to defect, Amit Shah said reminded Mamata Banerjee of when she quit Congress to form TMC and asked "was it not defection?"
6. Amit Shah, while addressing the rally, also said that by the time elections in the state come, Mamata Banerjee will be "left alone". The home minister exuded confidence and said that when results of West Bengal Assembly elections will be declared, BJP will form the government with more than 200 seats.
7. After Suvendu Adhikari’s exit, TMC leader and former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra said that the party is "free from virus" now. "I’m told that Suvendu said TMC did nothing for the last 10 years. If TMC had done nothing is last 10 years why were you silent? It’s unfortunate. Today there will be a gala evening for TMC workers as we’re free from virus now," Madan Mitra said.
8. TMC, meanwhile, held a press conference after Amit Shah’s rally in which party leader Kalyan Banerjee said that Shah doesn’t understand the "reality of West Bengal politics". He said that Mamata Banerjee will come in power for the third time, adding that the people of the state have inbuilt confidence in her.
9. On Suvendu Adhikari’s exit from TMC, Kalyan Banerjee said, "He says he did not get enough respect in the party. He had three ministries. Several other posts. He was the observer of 4-5 districts. What more does he want? The CMs chair? Such a traitor can come up from the holy land of Midnapore is unthinkable for the people of Bengal"
10.Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also reacted to Suvendu Adhikar’s “Tolabaaj bhaipo hatao [get rid of your extortionist nephew]” swipe at Mamata Banerjee and asked why the BJP is after the nephew. "Why only bhaipo [nephew], we [Congress] have given a call to remove Mamata herself and the entire TMC. Why are they [BJP] only calling for nephew, can’t they fight his aunt here? We will fight the entire TMC," Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
Courtesy:India Today