The BJP on Wednesday announced former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal. The trio had resigned from the Upper House and quit the TMC last month following the party’s defeat in the state Assembly elections.
The three seats fell vacant after their resignation, prompting bypolls. With the BJP’s current numerical strength in the West Bengal Assembly, all three candidates are widely expected to win and return to Parliament.
BJP Justifies Induction as an Exception
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya welcomed the former TMC leaders at the party’s state headquarters in Kolkata’s Salt Lake. He described their induction as an exception to the BJP’s post-election stance of excluding TMC leaders, stating that those without corruption allegations were acceptable.
“We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders. We stand by that. But those who did not indulge in corruption, did not oppress people, did not sell jobs or snatch away people’s rights were always welcome,” Bhattacharya said. He added that their experience would strengthen the BJP’s organization in the state.
Former TMC MPs Criticize Party Over Corruption
After joining the BJP, Dev and Ray criticized the TMC over corruption allegations. Dev, who had switched from Congress to TMC in 2021, stated, “I realised only after joining the TMC how unbelievable the extent of corruption could be.” Bhattacharya emphasized that their past no longer defined them, saying, “Everyone has a past. Their only identity now is that they are BJP workers.”
Dev, based in Assam, clarified that the party leadership decided she should join in Kolkata. She noted that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma advised her to respect Bengal’s voters, who had elected her to the Rajya Sabha twice. Bhattacharya added that Dev would take on national-level responsibilities for the BJP.
