The leaders were formally inducted at the BJP’s state headquarters in the presence of West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya and other senior party officials. Within hours of induction into the party, the BJP fielded them for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal.
The bypolls will be held on July 24 with counting of votes on the same day, after the seats fell vacant following the resignations of the three former TMC leaders last month.
The move has drawn sharp reactions from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC leaders.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh criticised the leaders, specifically Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, for what he termed an act of ingratitude.
Ghosh argued that abandoning the party during a challenging period was a betrayal of the trust the former Chief Minister placed in them, stating that the public is closely observing this opportunism.
Ghosh told ANI, “Sukhendu Sekhar Roy is a senior leader. Before 2011, he was never an MLA or MP. Mamata Banerjee, out of respect, sent him to the Rajya Sabha. And it was repeated multiple times as well. So today, if he is joining the BJP or doing something else, is this what Mamata Banerjee deserved? Just because a party has moved slightly into the opposition for a short time, if senior leaders start making such changes.”He added, “Now saying this is bad, that is bad. Look, when Mamata Banerjee was the Chief Minister, you didn’t leave anything, and now it’s time to leave everything. The public is watching everything.”
TMC rebel MP Ritabrata Banerjee emphasised his long-standing friendships with all three individuals, describing them as mentors and peers.
Ritabrata Banerjee said, “I have a long-standing relationship with Sukhendu da; he is a senior politician who has often guided me. Sushmita is a friend; we both became MPs in 2014. Prakash is like a younger brother to me. If they make a personal decision, I have no say in that.”
While acknowledging that their political paths have diverged, he maintained that in a democracy, individuals have the right to make their own choices, and he affirmed that his personal bonds with them would remain unchanged.
“Political views may differ, but personal relationships remain. They certainly have every right to do so in a democracy. I share excellent relationships with all three. They might align with a political stance opposed to mine, but the personal bond will undoubtedly remain,” he added.
Meanwhile, after joining the BJP, Sushmita Dev lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cited the “double-engine” government model as the reason for her transition.
“As I have said before, the work accomplished under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both in the country and in states with ‘double-engine’ governments, is undeniable; no one can refute it. I want to tell the people of West Bengal: give Chief Minister Suvendu Babu and Prime Minister Modi just two years. You will see that, just as the face of Assam and Tripura has been transformed, the face of West Bengal will undergo a complete transformation,” Dev said.
Launching a scathing attack on her former party colleagues, Dev referred to recent internal friction within the TMC.
“Mahua ji herself speaks of a purification of the TMC, which implies she admits the TMC is impure. Kunal Ghosh ji states in the Assembly that it is a party of rapists; Kunal-ji is the one who can answer who actually gave the tickets to those rapists,” she added.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, while speaking to ANI, expressed his optimism regarding the BJP’s governance style and its commitment to its manifesto.
“This government has begun working by taking up every agenda item listed in the manifesto and doing so with great speed and vigour. The general public is happy about this. More work will follow, and that is why we are filled with great hope and joy,” Roy stated.
Welcoming the new members, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said that the arrival of such seasoned leaders reflects the growing trust in PM Modi’s vision.
“This is truly a matter of great joy. Such prominent leaders are placing their trust in the Bharatiya Janata Party today; they are moving forward with faith in the country’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi,” Bhattacharya told ANI.
Welcoming the three leaders into the party, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said they had reposed faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“For 34 years, there was the rule of the Left Front, followed by that of the Trinamool Congress. The politics practised in West Bengal for so long defied and rejected our federal structure; instead of cooperating with the Centre, a path of confrontation was adopted, causing all development to stall. Against this backdrop, and placing their faith in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, three Members of Parliament resigned from the Trinamool Congress. Today, these three–Sushmita Dev, Prakash Chik Baraik and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy–have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. These three MPs are stalwarts whose performance in the Rajya Sabha is well-known to everyone,” he said.
He also said, “This is a joyous occasion for us, and the entire BJP is delighted. On behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and as its state president, along with our workers, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the entire cabinet, and our whole organisation, welcome these three individuals wholeheartedly and with great happiness.
TMC is currently facing rebellion both in the Assembly and Parliament after its loss in the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections.
