Sisir Adhikari, a former Congressman who later became the leader of the Trinamool Congress, joined the BJP today, continuing his decades-long political career. Sishir Adhikari shared a podium with Union minister Amit Shah today at Egra in Purba Medinipur, the district where his family has lived for generations.
Mr. Adhikari is expected to switch sides after his most promising son, Suvendu Adhikari, a close aide to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who became a bitter enemy, left the party and joined the BJP.
More than 30 seats in Medinipur, Bankura, and Purulia, which are expected to go to the BJP, are controlled by the Adhikari’s.
Mr. Adhikari has been a member of the Trinamool Congress for 23 years, including six years as a minister in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet.
The veteran politician was removed from his position as president of the Trinamool’s district unit and chairman of the prestigious Digha-Shankarpur Development Council earlier this year.
Locket Chatterjee, a BJP MP from Hooghly and the party’s assembly election candidate from Chunchura, paid a visit to Adhikari’s home on March 13 and had lunch with him. He met with BJP leader Mansukh Mandviya yesterday, fueling speculation.
“They (TMC leaders) forced me to join the BJP. Let them (TMC) do what they want, and I’ll do what I can “Before leaving for Egra, Mr. Adhikari was quoted as saying by the news agency Press Trust of India.
Suvendu Adhikari’s brother Soumendu Adhikari also joined the BJP after Trinamool removed him as an administrator of Contai Municipality. There is speculation that Sisir Adhikari’s other son, Trinamool MP Dibyendu Adhikari from Tamluk, may also follow suit.
