Hours after formally joining the BJP, former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik were named as the party’s candidates for the July 24 Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal.
The announcement came soon after the three leaders were inducted into the BJP at its West Bengal headquarters in Salt Lake by state unit president Samik Bhattacharya. The trio had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the TMC last month, paving the way for the bypolls.
Earlier in the day, Bhattacharya had avoided confirming whether the three would be fielded for the elections, saying only that discussions were still underway.
BJP says induction is an ‘exception’
Addressing questions over the BJP’s decision to induct former TMC leaders despite its earlier position against accepting defectors from the ruling party, Bhattacharya said the move was an exceptional case.
“We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders, and we stand by that. But those who were not involved in corruption, did not oppress people, did not sell jobs or deprive citizens of their rights are welcome to join us in the fight against the TMC,” he said.
Describing the decision as “an exception that proves the rule”, he said the experience of the three former parliamentarians would strengthen the BJP’s organisation in West Bengal.
Sushmita Dev targets former party
Soon after joining the BJP, Sushmita Dev criticised the TMC, alleging that corruption within the party had deeply disappointed her. “It was only after joining the TMC that I realised the unbelievable extent of corruption. People may criticise me for many things, but no one can say I was involved in corruption,” she said.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray also criticised the TMC, while Bhattacharya dismissed questions about the leaders’ political past. “Everyone has a past. From today, their only identity is that they are BJP workers,” he said.
‘Leadership wanted me to join in Kolkata’
Responding to questions about joining the BJP in Kolkata despite her political base in Assam, Dev said the decision was made by the party leadership. She added that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had advised her to honour the people of West Bengal, who had elected her to the Rajya Sabha twice.
Bhattacharya said Dev would have responsibilities beyond West Bengal and would work for the BJP at the national level.
Rajya Sabha bypolls on July 24
The Election Commission has scheduled bypolls to the three Rajya Sabha seats on July 24 following the resignations of Dev, Ray and Baraik from the Upper House and the TMC. In a separate announcement, the BJP’s Central Election Committee also cleared the candidature of Satishbhai Govindbhai Patel from Manjalpur for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly by-election.
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