Dipak Haldar was in 2015 suspended from the TMC and reinstated later.
Highlights
- Dipak Haldar claimed he was "not being allowed to work"
- Mr Haldar was in 2015 suspended from the TMC and reinstated later
- He is two-time legislator from Diamond Harbour
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has lost another MLA. This time, it is two-time legislator from Diamond Harbour, Dipak Haldar, who has walked out. His claimed he had taken the decision because he was "not being allowed to work". Shortly afterwards, he joined the BJP, a party that has in recent months welcomed a swarm of leaders from rival outfits in West Bengal, especially from the ruling TMC.
Mr Haldar join the BJP in the afternoon at a rally in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district.
The TMC has, however, said that he has quit because he was not going to be given a party ticket for the upcoming election due to his non-performance as an MLA. Ms Banerjee had earlier said that those who know that they are not going to be given tickets are leaving and the TMC is not worried about them.
A number of leaders have left the TMC in the past few months for various reasons, with most of them joining the BJP soon after. Till now, at least 18 sitting and former MLAs, including some former cabinet ministers, have shifted loyalties to the latter.
Last Saturday, five former Trinamool leaders were flown in to New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and join his party.
This is besides leaders from other parties such as the CPM and the Congress, who have, in recent times, joined the BJP which is trying to replace Chief Minister Banerjee's regime. Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly are expected to be held in April-May this year.