Denied TMC ticket, Kanai Mondal switches to BJP amid recruitment scam shadow

In a significant political development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, outgoing MLA Kanai Chandra Mondal has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after quitting the All India Trinamool Congress. Mondal, who represented Nabagram in Murshidabad, made the switch after being denied a party ticket for the upcoming polls, marking yet another instance of pre-election realignment in the state.

Mondal formally joined the BJP in the presence of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari at the party office in Salt Lake. Defending the move, Adhikari stated that Mondal’s induction was not merely driven by ticket denial but aimed at strengthening the party’s organisational base and improving its electoral prospects. He added that the BJP would utilise Mondal’s experience and ensure him due recognition within the party structure.

The political journey of Mondal reflects multiple shifts over the years. He began his career with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), winning the Nabagram seat in 2011 and 2016. He later joined the TMC and retained the seat in 2021. However, his exclusion from the candidate list this time appears to have triggered his latest switch, bringing him back into the BJP fold with Adhikari’s backing.

Notably, Mondal’s name has surfaced in connection with an alleged recruitment corruption case. During investigations, central agencies reportedly conducted searches at his residence, and his name was mentioned in a chargesheet linked to another आरोपी, where he was allegedly described as a “collection agent” in recovered documents. While the case remains under scrutiny, the development adds a layer of controversy to his political shift at a crucial electoral juncture.