Trinamool expels its MP Saumitra as he joins BJP

new delhi — In a setback to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saumitra Khan on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Khan’s induction in the saffron party was announced at a press conference here following his meeting with BJP President Amit Shah. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and West Bengal BJP leader Mukul Roy were also present.

Khan, elected to the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, represents Bishnupur constituency. He was earlier an MLA in the state Assembly from Katulpur. The TMC expelled Soumitra Khan and also other leader Anupam Hazra, who represents Birbhum district’s Bolpur constituency, for the anti-party activities.

Soumitra Khan got involved in several controversies in the last one year. He did not have any connection with the party. We have repeatedly cautioned him and gave him a lot of time but things did not change. So he has been removed from the party,” said Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.

“On the other hand, Anupam Hazra is involved in more heinous activities. He has made a number of controversial statements on the social media and done certain things which are not in line with party’s culture. He has also been expelled,” he said.

Taking a swipe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and party MP Abhishek Banerjee, Khan said it is not possible that only a certain family from south Kolkata will reign in Bengal. —

There is no democracy in Bengal. I have repeatedly told the party that we should respect common people but that did not happen. Saumitra Khan, ex-TMC MP