Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the party leadership, Baharu Kshetra Gram Panchayat’s deputy chief Sangita Haldar Mandal quit the BJP and joined the Trinamool Congress. Sangita alleged that despite repeatedly informing district and state leaders about various issues, she received no response, and the lack of support pushed her to leave the party. However, both the Left Front and the BJP claim she was pressured and lured into joining the Trinamool.
On Sunday, November 16, Sangita formally joined the TMC in the presence of South 24 Parganas district observer Jahangir Khan during the Joynagar Assembly’s organisational meeting. Khan said the party aims to win by lakhs of votes in the upcoming Assembly elections and noted that workers and elected representatives from opposition parties now believe meaningful work is possible only within the Trinamool, leading many to shift allegiance.
Explaining her move, Sangita said, “I won the panchayat vote after a lot of struggle. When I struggled and voted, the party was not beside me then. I want to work even more. That’s why I took this decision.”
The BJP dismissed her claims, with Joynagar organisational district committee member Mihir Mandal alleging, “Trinamool has taken away our party member by showing fear and inducements. Sangita’s allegations are completely baseless.”
Meanwhile, CPM’s South 24 Parganas district committee member Apurba Pramanik remarked, “BJP and Trinamool are two sides of the same coin. These are parties that have grown up with an opportunistic mentality. This is extremely dangerous for democracy.”
