West Bengal Election Date 2021: Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is however to come out of from party’s internal turmoil as its members continue to defect to the BJP. The West Bengal Chief Minister had currently announced TMC’s list of candidates for the 294-member assembly and this has left lots of sitting MLAs disgruntled as they have been not provided poll tickets this time. Many of them have now switched sides with the BJP and if reports are to be believed, lots of other people may well leave the party in the coming days.
Yesterday, the TMC faced a fresh bout of defections weeks ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections as 5 of its sitting MLAs crossed more than to the saffron party immediately after getting denied tickets. Sonali Guha, MLA from Satgachia constituency who had broken down publicly immediately after her name was dropped from the TMC candidate list, yesterday quit TMC to join the BJP. Guha had won 4 consecutive elections on the TMC ticket and was a close associate of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. She is also the former deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly.
The TMC’s selection to not field candidates more than 80-years due to COVID-19 created it lost one of the senior leader and a prominent face of the Singur anti-farmland acquisition movement to the BJP. 80-year-old Rabindra Bhattacharya pleased his allegiance to the BJP. With Bhattacharya joining the saffron camp, the TMC has now lost two pillars of the Singur and Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement to the BJP. The former close aide of Banerjee and face of the Nandigram movement, Suvendu Adhikari had currently joined the BJP in December final year along with 35 TMC leaders which integrated 5 MLAs and an MP.
Another senior leader and 4-time MLA, 85-year-old Jatu Lahiri left the TMC to join the saffron camp. Former footballer and initially-time MLA Dipendu Biswas also crossed more than to the BJP.
Sitting TMC MLA from Sankrail (Howrah district) Sital Sardar joined the saffron party yesterday. In a sudden turn of events, the TMC final morning announced replace its Habibpur candidate and sitting MLA Sarala Murmu citing her ‘ill-health’. The party gave the ticket to Pradeep Baskey from the seat. However, Murmu later joined the BJP. According to reports, Sarla Murmu wanted to contest from Old Malda seat and was upset immediately after getting fielded from Habibpur.
While the most recent spate of defection may well prove useful for the BJP, TMC leader Sougata Roy criticised the defectors saying they are energy-hungry and lack moral values. Actor Tanusree Chakraborty also joined the BJP.
With Sarla Murmu, at least 23 TMC members of Malda District Council also shifted sides with the BJP lowering the TMC to a minority in the council. With this, the BJP has also gained handle of the Malda District Council.
The election in West Bengal will be held in eight phases beginning March 27. The final phase of polling will be held on April 29. The counting of votes will be held on May 2.