Kolkata, 11 June (H.S.): Former West Bengal minister and four-time MLA Soumen Mahapatra has expressed his willingness to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Mahapatra said he had been unhappy with the party's functioning since the Assembly elections. He alleged that the Trinamool Congress now operates according to a corporate culture and claimed that even during his tenure as a minister, it was not easy to communicate directly with the Chief Minister or the party leadership.

Mahapatra further alleged that he had been sidelined within the party for the past three years after refusing to make derogatory remarks against BJP leader and current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. According to him, he was first removed from the ministerial position and later stripped of his responsibilities as district president.

Praising Adhikari, Mahapatra said that after former Chief Minister Ajoy Mukherjee, the most significant political transformation in Medinipur had been brought about by Suvendu Adhikari. He added that circumstances had compelled Adhikari to leave the Trinamool Congress.

The former minister also claimed that the Trinamool Congress was facing internal divisions. He said that if Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya were willing, he would be ready to join the BJP as an ordinary party worker and continue serving the people.

Mahapatra's remarks come amid continuing political realignments in West Bengal following the recent Assembly elections. :::

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh