SOVAN Chatterjee, ex- Kolkata Mayor & Academician Baishali Banerjee joins BJP
Former Kolkata Mayor and Ex- Minister Sovan Chatterjee, ruling Trinamool MLA, along with his close friend Baisakhi Banerjee, senior college teacher, on Wednesday joined BJP at the party headquarters in New Delhi.Debashree Roy, TMC sitting MP and former Bengal cinema’s leading lady, was also present. Before joining the Saffron party, Chatterjee and Banerjee had met BJP leaders Arvind Menon and Mukul Roy. While Sovan is the MLA from Behala East assembly constituency, Baisakhi was a former TMC leader and headed its education cell. “I am happy to join the BJP as I believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Amit Shah’s determination in making a strong India,” Chatterjee said .In November last year, Chatterjee, once a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, resigned as Kolkata Mayor over alleged differences with her. On receipt of his formal induction into the BJP, Trinamool Congress said it will expel him from the party, according to sources.TMC alleged that since CBI and Enforcement Directorate started probe against their leaders in Narada and Saradha, Rose Valley and other scams some party leaders are desperate to reach out to BJP to save themselves.
“He will be expelled from the TMC. The party is yet to make a final announcement,” a senior TMC leader said on condition of anonymity.
“We never thought Sovan would ultimately join the BJP. It is true that BJP leaders were in touch with him, but we never believed that he could betray Mamata Banerjee, whom he used to describe as ‘maa’ (mother),” said a senior TMC leader said.
“His joining will have a bearing on the TMC’s organization in South 24 Paraganas district and also on Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections slated to be held next year. TMC was deprived of his political and organizational acumen during the Lok Sabha polls,” said another TMC leader.In Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas TMC lagged The Trinamool Congress, which received a jolt by Chatterjee’s defection, said it will expel him from the party, according to sources.
TMC alleged that ever since CBI and Enforcement Directorate started probe against their leaders in Narada and Saradha scam some party leaders are desperate to reach out to BJP to save themselves.
According to a senior TMC leader, efforts were on to bring back Chatterjee to the party fold, who had taken sabbatical from active politics since last year due to personal reasons.
“He will be expelled from the TMC. The party is yet to make a final announcement,” a senior TMC leader said on condition of anonymity.
“We never thought Sovan would ultimately join the BJP. It is true that BJP leaders were in touch with him, but we never believed that he could betray Mamata Banerjee, whom he used to describe as ‘maa’ (mother),” said a senior TMC leader said.
“His joining will have a bearing on the TMC’s organization in South 24 Paraganas district and also on Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections slated to be held next year. The party missed his political and organization acumen during the Lok Sabha polls,” said another TMC leader. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, TMC lagged behind BJP in over 50 Calcutta Municipal Corporation’s constituencies. Mukul Roy, BJP National leader from West Bengal, said BJP will win CMC whenever elections are held.