The BJP on Thursday named former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik as its candidates for the July 24 Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal, just hours after formally inducting them into the party.
The three leaders, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the TMC last month, joined the BJP at the party’s West Bengal headquarters in Salt Lake in the presence of state president Samik Bhattacharya.
Their candidature was announced shortly after the induction, confirming speculation that the BJP would field all three in the upcoming bypolls.
BJP calls induction an ‘exception’
Earlier in the day, Bhattacharya had remained non-committal when asked whether the trio would contest the bypolls, saying only, “Let the discussions continue.”
Explaining why the BJP had welcomed former TMC leaders despite its earlier stance against admitting defectors from the ruling party, Bhattacharya said the decision was an exception.
“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 people of their rights are welcome to join us in the fight against the TMC,” he said.
Calling it “an exception that proves the rule”, he added that the experience of the three former MPs would strengthen the BJP’s organisation in West Bengal.
Sushmita Dev attacks TMC
After joining the BJP, Sushmita Dev launched a sharp attack on her former party, accusing the TMC of widespread corruption.
“Only after joining the TMC did I realise the unbelievable extent of corruption. People may criticise me for many things, but no one can accuse me of being involved in corruption,” she said.
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray also criticised the TMC, while Bhattacharya sought to downplay the leaders’ political past.
“Everyone has a past. Their identity from today is that they are BJP workers,” he said.
‘Leadership decided I should join in Bengal’
Responding to questions about joining the BJP in Kolkata despite being based in Assam, Dev said the decision was taken by the party leadership.
“I could have joined digitally from home, but the leadership wanted me to join here. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also told me to respect the people of Bengal because they elected me to the Rajya Sabha twice,” she said.
Bhattacharya said Dev would play a role in strengthening the BJP not only in West Bengal but across the country.
Rajya Sabha bypoll on July 24
The Election Commission has scheduled bypolls for the three Rajya Sabha seats in West Bengal on July 24, following the resignations of Dev, Ray and Baraik from both the Upper House and the TMC.
Separately, the BJP’s Central Election Committee also approved the candidature of Satishbhai Govindbhai Patel from Manjalpur for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly by-election.
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