Ahead of Bengal polls, Trinamool Congress MLA Jitendra Tiwari joins BJP

Barely a few weeks before the West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress legislator from Pandabeswar in West Burdwan district and former Asansol Municipal Corporation mayor Jitendra Tiwari on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday.

Reacting to the development, the TMC said it is a "good riddance".

Tiwari, who had rebelled against the TMC leadership but had mellowed down after the BJP declined to induct him into the party in December last year, joined the saffron camp in the presence of party state chief Dilip Ghosh at a programme in Sreerampur in Hooghly district.

"I have decided to join the BJP as I want to work for the development of my region. It was getting more and more difficult to work in the Trinamool Congress," Tiwari said at a rally in Hooghly's Sreerampore after joining the BJP.

Union minister and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo, who had opposed Tiwari's entry into the party in December last year, said he couldn't oppose if someone is willing to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Yes, it is true that we had fought hard in Asansol. When Jitendra was the TMC district chief, our main fight was against him in Asansol. But now, if he is willing to join our party, I can't oppose it. We will work together," he told reporters.

Earlier when Tiwari had left the Trinamool Congress, Supriyo had protested against his possible entry into the saffron camp on the social media. Supriyo had posted a video saying he won't be able to accept Tiwari in the BJP, if the Trinamool leader joins the state unit.

Then Dilip Ghosh along with BJP leaders like Agnimitra Paul and Sayantan Basu had also backed the Asansol MP for his statement. 

Later, the BJP had served a show-cause notice to Paul and Basu for their statements on the issue as Tiwari had decided to stay back with the Trinamool Congress.

West Bengal minister Arup Biswas had then dubbed the issue as an "internal matter" and said, "It happens in a family and in every household."

Elections to the 294-member Assembly will be held in eight phases, from March 27 to April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

(With agency inputs)