Setback for Mamata Banerjee: 2 Trinamool Congress MLAs, over 50 councillors join BJP
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The BJP came up with a stunning performance capturing 18 of Bengal's 42 seats in the just concluded elections, as against only two it won five years back.
In a major setback to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, three MLAs from West Bengal, including Trinamool Congress-turned-BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, along with more than 50 councillors on Tuesday joined the BJP here.
The other two MLAs are Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya from Bishnupur (Trinamool Congress) and Debendra Roy from Hemtabad (CPI-M). Roy represents Bijpur Assembly constituency.
Led by BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu, who was suspended by the Trinamool for six years for "demeaning the party", a large number of MLAs and councillors reached Delhi where they accepted BJP membership in the presence of Party President Amit Shah.
Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP National General Secretary on 3 MLAs and more than 50 Councillors from WB joining BJP: Like the elections were held in seven phases in West Bengal, joinings in BJP will also happen in seven phases. Today was just the first phase. pic.twitter.com/YbYEYK2KwU
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2019
Mukul Roy claimed in Delhi that the BJP could take control of up to 60 municipalities in the near future.
"I feel in the next two-three months the BJP will wrest 55-60 municipalities in the state," he said.
West Bengal: 16 TMC Councillors of the Kanchrapara Municipality collectively withdraw from AITC Councillor' Party. Subhrangshu Roy, son of BJP leader Mukul Roy also withdraws his membership. pic.twitter.com/h2F9wZf4SN
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2019
"More than 20 women councillors are here in Delhi. We are not upset with Mamata Ji (Banerjee) but BJP's massive gains in Bengal has influenced us to join the party. People are liking BJP as they are working for them," Ruby Chatterjee, TMC councillor from Garifa, Ward no 6, told ANI.
In Lok Sabha polls 2019, BJP inflicted a massive blow to the ruling TMC by winning 18 of the 42 parliamentary constituencies, in contrast with the figure of 2 seats in the 2014 general elections.
The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC although retained the state, it won just 22 seats, as against 34 in 2014.
(With inputs from ANI)