The BJP may have 77 MLAs, making it the primary Opposition party in Bengal in 2021, but its charge against Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress in the Assembly will have to be led by former Trinamul leaders, a prospect that is making the saffron camp deeply uncomfortable.
Although only a handful of Trinamul defectors to the BJP could make it to the Assembly this time, only Suvendu Adhikary and Mukul Roy carry enough political acumen and experience to take on a firebrand leader like chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
After all, they were both part of Mamata’s inner circle when they were with Trinamul.
On December 18, Mr Tiwari's dramatic return proved to be the only good news for Mamata Banerjee on a day of resignations. Mr Tiwari declared his resignation a "mistake" and, after meeting with senior leaders, told reporters: "I never said anything about Didi (Mamata Banerjee) or joining BJP".
A Trinamool MLA who quit in December, then returned almost immediately, has finally exited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party just weeks before the Bengal election. Jitendra Tiwari, the vacillating lawmaker, joined the BJP today. The MLA from Pandaveswar was a key Trinamool face in Asansol.
TMC MLA Jitendra Tiwari joins BJP in presence of state party chief Dilip Ghosh telegraphindia.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from telegraphindia.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.