TMC's Arjun Singh claims more BJP leaders 'waiting to join TMC': 'Just wait & see'

Ex-West Bengal BJP’s vice president Arjun Singh, who returned to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday after quitting BJP two days ago, asserted that many more people are eagerly waiting to jump ship like him. Arjun Singh, who had left the TMC ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, further said that he is in touch with another BJP MP Saumitra Khan but only time will speak about his next move. 

“Many people are waiting to join the TMC from the BJP in West Bengal. Just wait and see what happens,” Arjun Singh told media reporters.

BJP MP Saumitra Khan denies Arjun Singh's speculations

When asked whether Saumitra Khan, who too had switched over from TMC ahead of the last general election, will switch camps too, Singh replied, “Saumitra is like my younger brother. I won’t comment on it now. Do you want me to reveal everything today? Just wait and watch.” 

On the other hand, Saumitra Khan denied the speculations fuelled by the Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh but agreed that he shares a cordial relationship with Singh and a few other TMC MPs. BJP MP Saumitra Khan, a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Bishnupur, had left the TMC over his differences with Abhishek Banerjee who was then the TMC youth wing president.

BJP MP Saumitra Khan said, “I share good relations with TMC MPs such as Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Aparupa Poddar. But I want to say that I will join the TMC the day Abhishek Banerjee leaves the party. I have vowed never to work under Abhishek Banerjee.”

TMC leaders create an atmosphere of mistrust in BJP's West Bengal unit: BJP MP 

However, reacting to Arjun Singh’s claims, BJP MP and state general secretary Locket Chatterjee claimed that TMC leaders are trying to create an atmosphere of mistrust in the party’s West Bengal unit.

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said, “But we would like to clarify that if someone wants to leave the party, the person is free to do so. The door is open for opportunists to leave the party. We have the support of our dedicated grassroots workers.

TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh mocked Chatterjee by claiming that no leader will be left in the saffron camp if it dares to open its doors. “In that case, the BJP will cease to exist in West Bengal,” Kunal Ghosh added.