Former Congress MLA Shankar Malakar joins TMC, lauds CM Mamata's development

Former Congress MLA Shankar Malakar has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC). His move comes after he expressed admiration for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "development frenzy," echoing sentiments previously voiced by former BJP MP John Barla, who also joined the TMC. Malakar formally embraced the TMC flag on Wednesday at Trinamool Bhavan, in the presence of TMC state secretary Subrata Bakshi and Minister Arup Biswas.

Shankar Malakar, aged 70, has a long-standing political career rooted in the Congress party. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Matigara-Naxalbari constituency in North Bengal for a decade, from 2011 to 2021. His consistent representation for the Congress in the assembly allowed him to build considerable influence in a large part of North Bengal, particularly among the Scheduled Caste community.

Malakar's deep connection with the grassroots organization has kept the Congress strong in the region. Even during the 2021 assembly elections, when Mamata Banerjee's party achieved massive success across the state, the Trinamool Congress did not exert the same dominance in North Bengal. Despite this, Malakar's close ties with the organizational structure remained undiminished.

Speculation about Shankar Malakar potentially changing political camps had been circulating before the 2026 elections, and those rumors have now materialized. His official joining of the Trinamool Congress on Wednesday afternoon confirms the shift. There is now widespread speculation that the Trinamool Congress might field him as a candidate from the Matigara-Naxalbari constituency in the upcoming 2026 elections.

Commenting on his decision to switch parties, Shankar Malakar stated, "I am overwhelmed by the Chief Minister's development frenzy. As an opposition MLA, I could not contribute to development. But I am impressed by how the Chief Minister is developing North Bengal. That is why I am joining Trinamool." His statement underscores his belief in the current government's development agenda for the region.