BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed with him several political issues relating to the state. Adhikari met Modi at his residence a day after meeting the BJP's top brass, including its president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The meeting comes amid reports of possible "ghar-wapsi" for TMC leaders who had defected to the BJP ahead of the assembly polls. Several TMC turncoats have, over the past few weeks, expressed their willingness to rejoin the Mamata Banerjee camp—prominent among them being former MLAs Sonali Guha and Dipendu Biswas.
The conflict is now in the public forum. Amid reports of infighting within the West Bengal BJP and turncoats expressing their wish to return to the TMC fold, a saffron party MP from the state has said "those who have no spine" will make efforts to rejoin the ruling party. BJP MP from Bishnupur Saumitra Khan's remarks came hours after party leader Rajib Banerjee on Tuesday said "people will not take kindly to threats of president's rule" against a government elected with a huge mandate. Khan, in a social media post, said, "Remaining silent when 42 BJP workers have been killed indicates support for the ruling party. Are you seeking re-entry into your old party because you could not become a minister?"
Banerjee, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, joined the BJP before the assembly elections, but failed to retain the Domjur seat in Howrah district, from where he was fielded by the saffron party.
Mukul Roy could be the first of the TMC returnees. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee had visited BJP leader Roy's ailing wife in hospital, sparking speculation about a possible change in equation between them. Roy was conspicuous by his absence in Tuesday's meeting called by the state BJP leadership. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh has also been facing protests at different places from disgruntled grassroots workers, who have alleged that turncoats were responsible for the party's poor show in the assembly elections. There had also been protests at the state BJP offices here before the polls over tickets being given to some turncoats soon after joining the party.
