Hours after joining BJP, Sushmita Dev and 2 ex-TMC MPs fielded for Rajya Sabha bypoll
The BJP has fielded former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik for the July 24 Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal, days after inducting them into the party.
The BJP on Thursday named former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik as its candidates for the July 24 Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal, days after the three leaders joined the party.
The announcement came shortly after the trio, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the TMC last month, were formally inducted into the BJP at the party's West Bengal headquarters in Salt Lake by state president Samik Bhattacharya.
Earlier in the day, Bhattacharya had declined to confirm whether the three would be fielded for the bypolls. "Let the discussions continue," he had said with a smile.
Defending the induction of former TMC leaders despite the BJP's earlier stance against admitting leaders from the ruling party, Bhattacharya described the move as an "exceptional" case.
"We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders. We stand by that. But those who did not indulge in corruption, did not oppress people, did not sell jobs or snatch away people's rights were always welcome to join us in the fight against the TMC," he said.
'AN EXCEPTION THAT PROVES THE RULE'
Calling the decision "an exception that proves the rule", he said the experience of the three former parliamentarians would strengthen the BJP in West Bengal.
Sushmita Dev, who joined the TMC in 2021 after leaving the Congress, launched a sharp attack on her former party, alleging widespread corruption.
"I realised only after joining the TMC how unbelievable the extent of corruption could be. My critics may point to many shortcomings, but nobody can say I was associated with corruption," she said.
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray also criticised the TMC, while Bhattacharya sought to play down the leaders' political past.
"Everyone has a past. Their only identity now is that they are BJP workers," he said.
Responding to questions on why she joined the BJP in Kolkata despite being based in Assam, Dev said the decision was taken by the party leadership.
"I could have enrolled digitally from home. But the leadership decided I should join here. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also told me I should respect the people of Bengal because they elected me to the Rajya Sabha twice," she said.
Bhattacharya said Dev would work for the BJP across the country.
The Election Commission had recently announced bypolls to the three Rajya Sabha seats vacated after Dev, Ray and Baraik resigned from the Upper House and the TMC. With the BJP now officially fielding all three, they are set to seek a return to Parliament on the party's ticket.
The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party also accorded its approval to the name of Satishbhai Govindbhai Patel from Manjlpur for the Assembly by-election to be held in Gujarat.
The BJP on Thursday named former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik as its candidates for the July 24 Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal, days after the three leaders joined the party.
The announcement came shortly after the trio, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the TMC last month, were formally inducted into the BJP at the party's West Bengal headquarters in Salt Lake by state president Samik Bhattacharya.
Earlier in the day, Bhattacharya had declined to confirm whether the three would be fielded for the bypolls. "Let the discussions continue," he had said with a smile.
Defending the induction of former TMC leaders despite the BJP's earlier stance against admitting leaders from the ruling party, Bhattacharya described the move as an "exceptional" case.
"We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders. We stand by that. But those who did not indulge in corruption, did not oppress people, did not sell jobs or snatch away people's rights were always welcome to join us in the fight against the TMC," he said.
'AN EXCEPTION THAT PROVES THE RULE'
Calling the decision "an exception that proves the rule", he said the experience of the three former parliamentarians would strengthen the BJP in West Bengal.
Sushmita Dev, who joined the TMC in 2021 after leaving the Congress, launched a sharp attack on her former party, alleging widespread corruption.
"I realised only after joining the TMC how unbelievable the extent of corruption could be. My critics may point to many shortcomings, but nobody can say I was associated with corruption," she said.
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray also criticised the TMC, while Bhattacharya sought to play down the leaders' political past.
"Everyone has a past. Their only identity now is that they are BJP workers," he said.
Responding to questions on why she joined the BJP in Kolkata despite being based in Assam, Dev said the decision was taken by the party leadership.
"I could have enrolled digitally from home. But the leadership decided I should join here. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also told me I should respect the people of Bengal because they elected me to the Rajya Sabha twice," she said.
Bhattacharya said Dev would work for the BJP across the country.
The Election Commission had recently announced bypolls to the three Rajya Sabha seats vacated after Dev, Ray and Baraik resigned from the Upper House and the TMC. With the BJP now officially fielding all three, they are set to seek a return to Parliament on the party's ticket.
The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party also accorded its approval to the name of Satishbhai Govindbhai Patel from Manjlpur for the Assembly by-election to be held in Gujarat.
