Mamata Banerjee loses key party members to BJP

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in Kolkata on Saturday where he welcomed high-profile Trinamool Congress rebel leader Suvendu Adhikari and several others to the BJP. This was at a mega rally in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur.

At the event Shah targeted West bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.”Why are so many people leaving Trinamool Congress? Because of the misrule, corruption and nepotism of Mamata Banerjee. Didi, this is just the beginning. By the time elections come, you will be left all alone,” he said.

Besides Adhikari, nine other MLAs from various parties and Trinamool MP Sunil Mondal joined the BJP.

Both hah and dhikari referred to growing discontent among the people and the party about the rise of Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

The Trinamool dissident first resigned from the cabinet on 27 November and then from the party in December.

Shah’s West Bengal visit comes nine days after a convoy of BJP chief JP Nadda was attacked by alleged Trinamool workers. This has sparked off a huge row between the centre and the state.