BJP turncoats add spice to Bengal mix

KOLKATA: Almost one out of three BJP candidates in West Bengal is a deserter either from the Trinamool Congress or CPM, and a couple of them are also from Congress. While, three phases are already over, these turncoats still hold the key for BJP for its Bengal tally.

The BJP has at least 12 of 42 candidates, who are disgruntled members of its opponent parties. While most of them are from Trinamool Congress including two sitting MPs, who joined BJP and became candidates, at least two are from the Communist party. According to a senior BJP leader, who designed campaigns for some candidates, said that justifying the shift of allegiance to people had been a difficult task for the CPM deserters. “The shift from red to saffron has been very challenging for them. In fact, the Communists who generally appear to be atheists, also went to temples during campaigns. Both the parties are regimented parties and both believe in an ideology that is very different from each other. But for this election, we worked together and supported all our candidates.”

Khagen Murmu, a three-term CPM MLA joined BJP and became a candidate from Malda North. Talking to ET, Murmu said: “Can you see any communism left in the Left? They anyway turned right after joining hands with Congress. We fought all our battles against Congress, but now they are allying with them. How can any Communist leader justify this? Is there any ideology left in the CPM? I have joined BJP as I am inspired by PM Modi ji’s work. People from all parties supported me as in Bengal the fight is against Mamata Banerjee.”


BJP has fielded Nilanjan Roy, a Congress dissident in Diamond Harbour against Abhishek Banerjee — Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and the sitting MP. Speaking about the to shift to BJP, Roy said, “From where Abhishek’s aunt came? I also come from the same party. I have no complaint against Congress. There has been no discontent. I realised that I have to be with BJP for doing politics in Bengal. The state has been polarised between two forces. It is not communal but political polarisation. The state has now been polarised between BJP and TMC. So, I joined BJP. In Diamond Harbour, the ruling party did not do any work. So what is the point being so influential in the structure?” he asked.

Mukul Roy , BJP’s state chief of election management committee is also from TMC, who played an important role in selecting candidates and also in political poaching.