Amid allegations that a section of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers are attempting to switch sides following the Assembly elections, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has issued a strong warning against accommodating such entrants. Bhattacharya said the BJP would not accept individuals who had previously opposed or allegedly targeted party workers. “People did not vote for a change of shirt; they voted for a change of the person wearing the shirt,” he remarked, underscoring that voters expected a genuine political shift rather than opportunistic defections.
He alleged that several individuals who had campaigned against the BJP—and were even involved in confrontations with party workers at counting centres until the eve of the election—were seen holding the saffron flag within hours of the results being declared. According to him, many of these individuals had “oppressed ordinary citizens” in their respective areas and were now seeking refuge in the BJP.
Bhattacharya also pointed to internal strife within the TMC, claiming factional divisions were driving such attempts to switch allegiance. “Trinamool is fighting Trinamool,” he said, referring to what he described as a “75-25” split within the party that has now widened further.
“Those who have been sidelined are now attacking others while claiming to represent the BJP. The BJP’s doors are closed to them, and they will remain closed,” he added.
Reiterating the party’s stance, Bhattacharya said that individuals hoping to join the BJP with the aim of contesting upcoming municipal or panchayat elections would not be entertained. “If anyone thinks they can suddenly become a BJP member and contest elections, that will never be allowed,” he asserted.
At the same time, he acknowledged that there have been isolated instances where such individuals may have managed to associate themselves with BJP workers at the grassroots level. “There is no such thing as a foolproof system; we are trying to minimize such instances as much as possible,” he said.
Responding to questions on these irregularities, Bhattacharya noted that some local-level BJP leaders had been seen posing for photographs with former TMC members or even symbolically welcoming them by draping saffron scarves. He alleged that some individuals had managed to enter the party fold by projecting “excessive devotion.”
The BJP leader, however, assured that the party leadership would act swiftly to address such cases and maintain organisational discipline.
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