NEW DELHI — In a dramatic political twist that upends its long-standing regional strategy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has inducted three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs and immediately fielded them as its official candidates for the upcoming July 24 Rajya Sabha by-elections.
The strategic crossover involves heavyweight legislators Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik, all of whom resigned their upper house seats before switching camps.
A 180-Degree Policy Shift
The fast-tracked nominations mark a stark departure for the BJP central leadership. For years, particularly leading up to state assembly polls, the BJP had fiercely maintained that its doors were firmly shut against Trinamool leaders, routinely citing deep-rooted institutional corruption.
However, within mere hours of the trio joining the party, the BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC) officially cleared their candidatures. State party leaders quickly moved to frame the sudden shift as an intentional exception to the rule.
“We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders. We stand by that. But those who did not indulge in corruption, did not oppress people… were always welcome to join us in the fight against the Trinamool and rebuild Bengal.”
— Samik Biswas, State BJP Chief (via PTI)
Meet the Three Defectors Moving to the BJP
| Candidate | Tenure & Background | Catalyst for Leaving TMC |
| Sukhendu Shekhar Ray | Veteran Rajya Sabha MP since 2012. | Publicly broke ranks with the TMC over its handling of the RG Kar medical college controversy, demanding systemic accountability. |
| Sushmita Dev | Former Lok Sabha MP from Assam; high-profile national face. | Quit following a wider rebellion led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, citing shock at the “unbelievable extent of corruption” within the TMC. She joined the BJP after consulting Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. |
| Prakash Chik Baraik | Elected to Rajya Sabha in 2023. | A prominent structural organizer known for his extensive grassroots footprint among tea garden workers in North Bengal. |
The Road to July 24
Because all three lawmakers resigned from their positions prior to crossing the aisle, their departures triggered immediate vacancies. By re-fielding them under the saffron banner, the BJP is looking to consolidate its hold on these crucial parliamentary seats while simultaneously weaponizing the defectors’ insider knowledge against West Bengal’s ruling party.
