COMING AND GOING: SOME RECENT PARTY HOPPING

CHECKLIST

n Trinamool Congress strongman and Bhatpara MLA Arjun Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a meeting with its leader Mukul Roy. Singh said: “I worked for the last 40 years under Mamata Banerjee ji. But I was extremely disappointed when she questioned the credibility of the Indian Army after the Balakot strike. When the entire country was speaking in one voice against Pakistan, she was questioning the intention of the Prime Minister. It was very unfortunate. Hence I have decided to join the BJP”

Congress media cell honcho Tom Vadakkan left the Congress and joined the BJP. “I left the Congress party because when Pakistani terrorists attacked our land, my party’s reaction to it was sad, and hurt me deeply. If a political party takes such a position that is against the country, then I’m left with no option but to leave that party,” he said.

Senior Congress leader and seven-time legislator from Maharashtra Kalidas Kolambkar in on the verge of joining the BJP. He has removed the Congress signboard from his office and replaced it with a portrait of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "I worked in the Congress party for 10 years. But they stopped a lot of development work in my constituency. I support those who work," he said.

Sujay Vikhe-Patil left the Congress and joined the BJP because he was upset over not being fielded by the party from Ahmednagar which is considered the stronghold of the Vikhe Patil family. Sujay is the fourth generation member of the family to represent the seat. “Joining BJP is my personal choice. I have taken this decision against the wishes of my father. I do not know what my mother and father think about this decision. But I consider this as a huge responsibility and promise to work tirelessly to ensure both the seats in my districts come to BJP,” he said.