'Over 5000 TMC Workers, Others Join BJP in Bengal'

GANGTOK: In yet another major setback for the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) in North Bengal, over 5000 party supporters and others from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars today joined the BJP ahead of the state Assembly elections.

Welcoming the new batch of supporters to the saffron party, BJP national spokesman and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista stated: “… this is but just a beginning. Thousands of others are waiting to join us and work with us in bringing about transformation in our region. Because they are aware that neither TMC, nor CPM, Congress or any other party has the vision, mission and passion to develop North Bengal and to provide dignity, freedom, justice and respect to all the ethnic and cultural minorities from our region.

“I once again welcome everyone who want to see a better tomorrow for our people and region to BJP and I thank them for strengthening us and for joining the BJP family. They have shown the trust and faith in the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and BJP Sankal Patra.”

Expressing confidence that the TMC will be dethroned this time, Bista stated: “Today we extended our heartfelt welcome to all those who have decided to take a stand against this autocratic party (TMC) and their brand of politics of cut-money, corruption, contractor raj and police raj.

“Those who joined BJP today have not done so for their personal benefit, in fact they have made great personal sacrifices to bring about change in our region. They were hounded by a brutal TMC regime. Their homes were destroyed, their families were harassed and they had to suffer a great deal of physical and mental torture in the hands of TMC police, just because they had taken a stand against the TMC.

“… They understand that TMC will never do justice to the Gorkhas, Adivasis, Rajbangshis, Koch, Meche, Rabha, Toto and other people from our region. They know that only BJP has the will and vision to fulfil the aspirations of our people from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars.”

West Bengal is set to go to polls by mid-2021 and the defections, led by heavyweights such as Suvendu Adhikari, and erosion of party support in most parts state have compounded the woes for chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Co.

There have been alleged violence against BJP workers in the state over the past few months. A couple of BJP leaders have also been allegedly murdered and the saffron party has been pointing a finger at TMC for perpetrating the violence.