BJP Names Former TMC MPs as Candidates for Rajya Sabha Bypolls in West Bengal

Hours after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs, Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik, were named the saffron party's candidates for the Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal. The BJP's Central Election Committee announced the names of Dev, Ray and Baraik as its nominees for the July 24 bypolls, days after the Election Commission notified elections to the three Rajya Sabha seats that fell vacant following their resignations from the TMC and the Upper House last month. Earlier in the day, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya inducted the trio into the party at its Salt Lake headquarters. Asked whether the three would be fielded in the Rajya Sabha bypolls, Bhattacharya had smiled and said, "Let the speculations continue." The suspense ended a few hours later when the BJP central leadership formally announced their candidature. The development marks the first major induction of former TMC leaders into the BJP since the party came to power in West Bengal, signalling that its post-election decision to keep Trinamool leaders at arm's length would not apply to those it considers politically credible and free from corruption allegations. "We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders. We stand by that. But those who did not indulge in corruption, did not oppress people, did not sell jobs or snatch away people's rights were always welcome to join us in the fight against the TMC and rebuild Bengal," Bhattacharya said.