Trouble keeps on mounting for Trinamool Congress ahead of the crucial 2021 state legislative election as 10 of its MLAs, 1 MP and an ex-MP took a pledge of allegiance to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a mega public meeting in Midnapore on Saturday, December 19.
The most prominent faces among the rebel party leaders, which left TMC, were MLA Suvendu Adhikar, Bardhaman Purba, MP Sunil Kumar Mondal. Besides the TMC, CPI, CPM and Congress also lost one MLA each. In the face of stampeding party leaders and workers rushing out of the party, Mamta tried to put on a brave by dismissing them as good riddance while BJP sees it as a paradigm shift in West Bengal politics.
Ahead of the Adhikari’s entrance into BJP, Central Government cranked up his security to Z category CRPF security cover in Bengal and Y plus in other states. Adhikari was also given a bullet-proof vehicle. The Union Home Ministry observed that after examining the security needs of Suvendu Adhikari, they have decided to provide him Z category security and an armoured vehicle in West Bengal.
Exiting of Suvendu is perhaps biggest shock to TMC, given his role in the Nandigram movement which gave the boost to TMC and Mamta and propelled them to the power. Suvendu Adhikari also slammed Mamta Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee by calling an extortionist at the public meeting.
Suvendu holds great sway in constituencies of Purba Medinipur, Malda, Purulia, Bankura, Murshidabad and Jhargram.
