CHANDAN Mitra Is Likely To Join TMC After Leaving BJP

DR Chandan Mitra, Editor -in -Chief of The Pioneer, multi edition newspaper claimed to the second oldest existing English daily in India after the Times of India, has quit BJP. The two-time BJP Member of the Rajya Sabha has informed BJP’s National President Amit Shah about the decision.Dr Mitra, born in West Bengal’s  Howrah district  62 years  ago and an alumni of the Universities  of  Calcutta  and Oxford ,has himself  confirmed his resignation from the party  to a TV channel  without  disclosing  the name of his new political outfit. Dr Mitra was stated to be close to  BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani and  was not comfortable  with the present BJP dispensation headed by PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah .Media reports suggest that he will join Mamata Banerjee led TMC on the Martyrs’ Days to be chaired by the WB CM on July 21 at a grand rally in Kolkata. He was first nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2003 by then NDA Government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee   and elected from Madhya Pradesh in 2010 .In 2014, the BJP had fielded him from Howrah for Lok Sabha elections which was marred by some violent incidents.Dr Mitra came fourth in terms of votes he had polled.Dr Mitra, who is basically a scholar and has authored several books, is not considered a grassroots leaders or worker. TMC may be happy of roping in another intellectual after Dr Amit Mitra who is now entrusted with Finance Portfolio. Chandan Mitra may also help Mamata Banerjee expand TMC’s expansion in northern India.