“If BJP opens the doors, 20 MPs are ready to join”: Soumitra Khan

BJP MP Soumitra Khan on Tuesday claimed that several leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress are willing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party following the party’s performance in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Speaking at the inauguration of the district BJP president’s office in Bankura town, the Bishnupur MP alleged that nearly 20 Trinamool MPs and around 50 MLAs are dissatisfied within the party and are in contact with BJP leaders regarding a possible switch.

During the programme attended by BJP workers and supporters, Soumitra Khan repeatedly criticised Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and claimed that many party leaders no longer wanted to remain associated with him. He stated that if the BJP central leadership and state leadership, including Suvendu Adhikari and Shamik Bhattacharya, permitted defections, multiple Trinamool MPs were prepared to join the BJP. He further alleged that the Trinamool Congress could collapse if the BJP leadership opened its doors to incoming legislators.

The remarks came amid increasing political speculation in West Bengal following reports that several Trinamool leaders had recently attended administrative meetings chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Political discussion intensified after Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and six Trinamool MLAs attended a meeting in Kalyani. The developments drew attention because such interactions between ruling and opposition legislators have historically been uncommon in West Bengal politics.

According to political discussions surrounding the recent meetings, BJP MLAs Tapas Roy, Shankar Ghosh and Jagannath Chattopadhyay were also present during discussions at the Assembly involving Speaker Rathindra Bose and Suvendu Adhikari. Reports suggested that issues related to Assembly committees and political strategy were discussed. The meeting gained further significance after Trinamool MLAs Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay and Sandipan Saha reportedly joined the discussions and later stated that they would support the government on development-related matters.

Soumitra Khan also intensified his attack on Abhishek Banerjee by alleging that BJP workers faced attacks and demolition of houses after the 2021 Assembly elections. Referring to reports that bulldozers had recently reached the road outside Abhishek Banerjee’s residence during an administrative operation, he claimed that political consequences would follow. The Trinamool Congress did not issue any official response to the allegations. When contacted, Bankura organisational district chairperson Aloka Sen declined to comment on the matter.