Narendra Modi government is all set to accommodate TMC rebel Suvendu Adhikari into various central government agencies. Sources said that his bio data has been sought for the chairmanship post of the Jute Corporation of India.
If given, he would discharge duties as a cabinet rank member of the central government. JCI, headquartered in Kolkata, does not have a chairman rank as of now. But the rank has been created for Adhikari. His office will be in Kolkata's Nizam Palace.
Adhikari used to be a cabinet minister in Mamata Banerjee government. He held three portfolios including that of transport, irrigation and waterways departments in West Bengal.
Adhikari refused to comment on his possible assignment.
A senior state BJP leader in Bengal said," Yes. He is being given a top role in JCI."
That he earned a central government rank even before completion of a month of his joining points to the deal Adhikari made with BJP before jumping ship. Even Mukul Roy did not get such quick response by BJP when he joined the party in 2017.
Adhikari currently holds no post in the state BJP but has also been given a chamber in BJP's new office at Hastings in Kolkata. He is treated at par with Roy if not more.
On Thursday, Adhikari went to the house of former Congress leader Somen Mitra who died this year and held a marathon meeting with his wife Sikha and son Rohan. Apart from that, Adhikari is in touch with several other TMC leaders who might join the BJP soon.
His younger brother Soumendu has been removed by the Bengal government from the post of board of administration in Contai municipality. Sources also revealed that entire Adhikari family, which includes two MP and one MLA, will join the BJP.
Among two MPs, Sisir Adhikari is MP from Contai and his eldest son Dibyendu is MP from Haldia. Soumendu is also an MLA.
Meanwhile, the Left and Congress have jointly written a letter to Speaker Biman Bandyopadhya asking the chief minister to prove his majority before the budget session.
It seems there would be turmoil in the assembly as well over TMC leaders' joining BJP.
