West Bengal Assembly elections to be held in eight phases from March 27 and the final phase polling will take place on April 29.
The battle for Bengal is in full swing. West Bengal Assembly elections to be held in eight phases from March 27. The second phase of polling will take place on April 1, the third phase on April 6, the fourth phase on April 10, the fifth phase of polling will take place on April 17 and the sixth phase polling will take place on April 22, the seventh phase on April 26 and the eighth and final phase polling will take place on April 29.
With the elections just a few weeks away, parties in the state are campaigning with full vigour with various new leaders defecting to or joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state thereby increasing the star quotient of the saffron brigade. Lets take a look at all the leaders who have joined the BJP ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections
1. Mithun Chakraborty
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The latest to join the BJP bandwagon is actor Mithun Chakraborty who joined the party at the Brigade Parage Ground on Sunday (March 7). Quoting a dialogue from one of his films, he said, “Ami joldhorao noi, bele borao noi... Ami ekta cobra, ek chobol-ei chobi (Don't mistake me for a harmless snake, I am a cobra, can kill people in one bite)”. "I always wanted to do something big in life but had never dreamt of being a part of such a huge rally which is to be addressed by world's most popular leader Narendra Modi. I wished to work for the poorer sections of our society, and that wish will now be fulfilled," he said while joining the saffron brigade.
(Photo: IANS)
2. Yash Dasgupta
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Popular Bengali actor Yash Dasgupta joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 17. Yash made his debut on the big screen with the title role in Bengali film Gangster. The actor is well-known for his roles in Bojhena Se Bojhena and Na Aana Is Des Laado. Addressing a press conference after joining the BJP, Yash said, "BJP has always given opportunities to the youth. We all have to work for a change for the better. Today that I have joined BJP does not mean I will start saying bad things about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. I had informed her about my decision and sought her blessings before joining the saffron camp.
3. Suvendu Adhikari
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Suvendu Adhikari, was the face of the TMC supremo’s Nandigram movement. The political heavyweight ended his two-decade-old association with the party in December and thanked Mamata Banerjee for opportunities she gave him. The Bharatiya Janata Party has pitted Aadhikari against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee from the Nanidgram constituency.
4. Arindam Bhattacharya
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Arindam Bhattacharya, TMC MLA from Santipur in West Bengal’s Nadia district, on January 17 joined the BJP in its headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of national general secretary Kaliash Vijayvargiya and other leaders. “For me, the most important issue is the welfare of the people of my constituency and I believe that the BJP can bring in that development,” he said on joining the party.
5. Ashok Dinda
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Former Indian cricketer Ashok Dinda on February 24 joined Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in Kolkata. Mr Dinda was formally inducted into the party in presence of the Union Minister Babul Supriyo and state BJP vice president Arjun Singh at a public meeting in Kolkata
6. Debashree Bhattacharya
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Famous Tollywood actress Debashree Bhattacharya also joined the saffron brigade on March 6.
7. Sayantika Banerjee
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Ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections 2021, Bengali actor Sayantika Banerjee joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on March 3. Sayantika Banerjee joined the TMC in presence of party leader and West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee and other leaders in Kolkata.
(Photo: ANI)
