After the below-par performance in the general election 2019, the ruling party in West Bengal – TMC seems to be headed towards a further downslide after 2 MPs and as many as 50 TMC councillors changed sides and joined BJP on May 28.

The TMC’s supremo, Mamata Banerjee has been at the loggerheads with the centre since the dates for the general election were announced. The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee has tried ways to stymie Modi’s wave from entering her Bengal. However, the results show otherwise. Of the total 42 seats in Bengal, the BJP bagged 18 seats against its own tally of two seats in 2014, throwing CPM, the once-ruling government in the state out of the competition.

Mukul Roy who is attributed for BJP’s best performance in the state of West Bengal in the last 40 years welcomed his son Subhrangshu Roy, who was suspended by TMC for six years for demeaning the party. He along with TMC MLA Tusharkanti Bhattacharya and one CPM MLA, Debendra Nath Roy joined the saffron party.

All the councillors joined the BJP at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya and Mukul Roy. The TMC Councillor from ward 6, Ruby Chatterjee had earlier claimed that around 20 councillors would join BJP soon. Later in the day, she said that they have joined the BJP because of the saffron party’s massive inroads and not because they were upset with Mamata Banerjee.

Ruby Chatterjee, TMC councillor from Garifa (West Bengal), ward no 6 says, "20 councillors are here in Delhi. We are not upset with Mamata ji but the recent victory of BJP in Bengal has influenced us to join the party. People are liking BJP as they are working for them." pic.twitter.com/qpYCCmS4HF

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2019

Vijaywargiya, addressing the media said, “Like the elections were held in seven phases in West Bengal, joinings in BJP will also happen in seven phases. Today was just the first phase.”

Reports of horse trading and poaching of MLAs is rife in West Bengal, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier claimed that 40 TMC MLAs are in touch with the BJP. After the results were declared, one BJP MP reiterated Modi’s claim saying that Bengal government might fall “within 90 days”.

It will be interesting to see how Mamata Banerjee responds to this fallout, as the state awaits its fate in the 2021 assembly election.

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