As Lok Sabha elections draw closer, TMC is facing a major defection issue in West Bengal. Recently TMC MP Anupam Hazra had joined the BJP. According to reports, now a sitting MLA, Arjun Singh from Bhatapara has stated that he is to join the BJP later today.
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Reports say that Arjun Singh was upset over ticket distribution for Lok Sabha. He was reportedly hopeful of a TMC ticket as a candidate from Barackpore, but the ticket was given to Dinesh Trivedi. Singh had said that voters are not happy with Trivedi for his prolonged absence from the constituency.
Mamata Banerjee reportedly had met both Singh and Trivedi on Monday and had asked them to forget differences and work for the party together. But Singh has decided to join BJP instead.
Arjun Singh is considered a heavyweight leader and has a considerable number of party cadre and workers supporting him. As per reports, his defection to BJP might mean trouble for Mamata Banerjee in coming days. TMC had also denied tickets to 6 sitting MPs in its list.
Reports also say that many party leaders and workers are upset over TMC’s ticket distribution.
Another TMC leader Sovan Chatterjee, the MLA from Behala east constituency was allegedly confined to his bungalow when TMC hooligans had surrounded a house he was in with his friend Baisakhi Chatterjee. Sovan had had differences with Mamata Banerjee earlier and it was also rumored that Baisakhi Chatterjee might be given the BJP ticket from Diamond Harbour if she joins the party. TMC leader Anubroto Mondal had allegedly threatened that if the duo joins BJP they will be “Khallas” (finished).
Earlier this month, it was reported that more than 300 TMC workers had joined BJP. BJP leader Mukul Roy had reportedly stated that several other TMC leaders are in touch with BJP. TMC MP Saumitra Khan had also switched to BJP recently.