The last Assembly election results in West Bengal offered the BJP a lot to cheer after it bettered its tally from three seats in 2016 to 77 in 2021. This was hailed as the best performance of the party but things haven't been rosy since then. From 77, the party's current tally in the Assembly is just 65 after two-time Haldia MLA and BJP leader Tapasi Mondal on Monday joined the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Mondal's switch has come as a blow to the BJP and Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is now left with an even lean party in the Assembly, with barely a year left for the elections.
Mondal, who jumped ship from CPI(M) to the BJP, made her second switch on Monday when she joined the Trinamool Congress. She cited the BJP's "divisive politics" for her decision, stating she had repeatedly cited this within the party but was ignored. Many see her leaving the BJP as a blow to the BJP in the Purba Medinipur region which is Adhikari’s stronghold. Mondal's constituency Haldia is located in the region.
The BJP had called her a "political opportunist and said the people would reject her.
How BJP lost its MLAs
Though the BJP began its stint as the Opposition party for the first time in West Bengal, it couldn't retain the sheen. Two MLAs were selected as Lok Sabha candidates in the recent Parliament elections. The party lost both seats to the TMC, including Madarihat in North Bengal and Dhupguri assembly seat in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district.
The BJP also saw several of its MLAs leave for the TMC. They include Mukul Roy who returned to the TMC after the 2021 elections, Tanmay Ghosh, Harkali Pratihar Suman Kanjilal, Biswajith Das and Krishna Kalyani.
But, the switch is far from over. Trinamool Congress claims more BJP MLAs could join the party before 2026.
There are speculations that Bishnu Prasad Sharma, the BJP MLA from Kurseong could be next in the line. Sharma has been criticising the BJP leadership, over the promise 'special status' for the hills. He has also hinted at leaving the party if necessary. However, it is not clear whether he would join the TMC as Mamata Banerjee is not favourable to the demand for a separate state or special status.
Though Soumen Roy, the MLA from Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur, returned to BJP after a brief stint with the TMC, his loyalty remains under question, according to local media reports. Soumen's real loyalty is with Rajbanshi leader of Cooch Behar, Anant Maharaj. A section of the BJP claims that Soumen got the ticket from Kaliaganj in 2021 on the recommendation of Anant Maharaj. Soumen leaving BJP for TMC happened when Anant had a fallout with the BJP. When the issue was sorted out after BJP sent Anant to Rajya Sabha, Soumen returned. However, things are now not smooth between Anant and the BJP.
