Former BJP RS MP Chandan Mitra likely to join TMC

July 17 (AZINS) Former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra is likely to join TMC after he put in his resignation on Tuesday. Sources said that the two-time Rajya Sabha MP and editor of an English daily had resigned owing to his discomfort with the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

Although TMC spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien said he had no idea if Mitra would join TMC, party insiders said there had been talks within the party for some time now. “He was one of the old timers of BJP and thought he was not getting his due from the new brigade under Modi. I had been hearing that he would quit the party and join TMC and that negotiations on certain issues were on but at the same time I had heard he could join Congress as well,” said a senior TMC leader.

Mitra, who had been a Rajya Sabha MP in 2003 and 2010, had also unsuccessfully contested as BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Hooghly constituency.

Mitra, known for his vicinity with party veteran Lal Krishna Advani, had been known for criticising his own party if need be. After BJP’s defeat in Kairana bye poll, he had termed it as a ‘serious setback’ for the party. That led to him getting severely trolled on social media with some suggesting Modi to get rid of Mitra from the party.

State BJP leaders were quick to point out that Mitra would not be of much use in any party. “I don’t know if he has quit BJP, but he had not been of much use to Bengal BJP other than contesting one election from Hooghly,” said West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh.

Similarly, state BJP vice president Jayprakash Majumder said, “Mitra was an asset to BJP in past years. As a journalist he has made a mark in media and he can help any truthful political party for the development of the country but if he decides to join TMC, there will be a reversal of his achievements so far.”

Another senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity said that Mitra was a spent force. “He has no utility left. They are demanding respect within the party without asking themselves what they had to contribute to the party politically. People like Mitra, Shatrughan Sinha and Yashwant Sinha have become redundant in the party,” he said.