Kolkata, 21 February (H.S.) : Days of speculation in West Bengal’s political circles came to an end on Saturday as former CPI(M) youth leader Pratik Ur Rahaman formally joined the All India Trinamool Congress at a party event in Amtala, South 24 Parganas.

Rahaman was welcomed into the party fold by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who handed him the party flag at the local party office. The move is being viewed as a setback for the Left camp and a strategic gain for the ruling party ahead of crucial electoral battles.

The groundwork for Rahaman’s switch was laid last Sunday when he resigned from the state committee, district committee and primary membership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). His resignation letter soon entered the public domain, triggering intense political chatter. While the development was initially seen as internal dissent within the party, speculation about his possible move to the Trinamool Congress gained momentum over the following days.

His absence from a recent CPI(M) state committee meeting further fuelled the buzz. On Friday, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim confirmed that Rahaman’s resignation had been accepted. Earlier on Saturday, Rahaman himself hinted at beginning a new political journey aimed at public service.

Political observers believe that the exit of a prominent young face like Rahaman could impact the Left’s organisational strength at the grassroots level. For the Trinamool Congress, his induction signals an attempt to consolidate and expand its youth base under Banerjee’s leadership.

With the state’s political landscape increasingly competitive, Rahaman’s defection underscores the churn within opposition ranks and the TMC’s continuing efforts to attract emerging leaders from rival camps.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh