Archive · 6 Oct 2026
BJP Faces Criticism Over Former TMC Leaders’ Rajya Sabha Seats
Tathagata Roy is a senior BJP leader who criticized his party.
He objected to former TMC members getting places in the Rajya Sabha through the BJP.
He said BJP workers in West Bengal had faced hardship from TMC supporters.
He warned that party leaders should not ignore those workers.
Samik Bhattacharya, the BJP chief in West Bengal, defended the party’s decisions.
He said the BJP would not become like the TMC.
Three former TMC MPs joined the BJP and later won Rajya Sabha seats without opposition.
Koel Mallick also joined the BJP after being nominated for a vacant seat.
She said she was pleased with recent development work in the state.
Former Tripura governor and BJP leader Tathagata Roy criticized his party for giving Rajya Sabha positions to former TMC leaders rather than long-time BJP workers.
Roy said BJP workers in West Bengal had suffered at the hands of TMC supporters and warned that overlooking their concerns would be “very unwise.”
West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said the party would not induct “tainted” TMC leaders and that “Trinamoolisation” of the BJP would not happen.
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik left the TMC, joined the BJP on July 9 and were re-elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on BJP tickets.
Koel Mallick, formerly a TMC Rajya Sabha MP, joined the BJP after being nominated for a vacant seat and said she welcomed recent development work in West Bengal.
- Who
- Tathagata Roy criticized the BJP; West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya responded. The dispute concerns former TMC leaders who joined the BJP.
- What
- Roy objected to former TMC leaders receiving Rajya Sabha positions instead of long-time BJP workers; Bhattacharya defended the party’s decisions.
- When
- Roy posted his criticism on Sunday evening; Bhattacharya responded on Monday. The article does not specify the dates.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the BJP and its West Bengal organization; Roy said he was writing from the United States.
- Why
- Roy said BJP workers in Bengal had suffered at the hands of TMC supporters and that ignoring their concerns would be unwise.
Roy’s criticism
BJP’s response
Former TMC leaders joining the BJP
Roy’s criticism
Roy argued that giving Rajya Sabha positions to former TMC members rather than long-time BJP workers was very unwise, particularly given the hardships BJP workers had faced.
BJP’s response
Bhattacharya said the party had decided to induct the leaders and insisted that the BJP would not undergo “Trinamoolisation.”
- Roy’s party role
- He joined the BJP in 1990 and led its West Bengal unit from 2002 to 2006.
- Roy’s former office
- He was appointed governor of Tripura in 2015.
- Roy’s criticism
- He objected to Rajya Sabha positions going to former TMC leaders instead of long-time BJP workers.
- Three leaders’ switch
- Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik joined the BJP on July 9.
- Rajya Sabha outcome
- The three were subsequently re-elected unopposed on BJP tickets.
- Koel Mallick
- She served as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP from April 6 to July 16 and joined the BJP after being nominated for a vacant seat.
- BJP response
- Samik Bhattacharya said the party would not induct “tainted” TMC leaders and that “Trinamoolisation” of the BJP would not happen.