Hours after joining BJP, 3 Ex-TMC MPs named Rajya Sabha nominees from West Bengal

Kolkata: Three former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs, including Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, joined BJP on Thursday and, within hours, were named BJP candidates for the Upper House bypolls from West Bengal, underlining both their political rehabilitation and the party's calibrated shift in inducting TMC leaders.

BJP's central election committee announced the names of Dev, Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik as its nominees for the July 24 bypolls, days after ECI notified polls to the three seats vacated following their resignations from TMC and the Rajya Sabha. The development marked the first major induction of ex-TMC leaders into BJP since it swept state polls.

Read more: Former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Prakash Chik Baraik join BJP