Haldia MLA Tapasi Mondal bags key post in Women & Child Welfare Dept days after joining TMC

Haldia MLA Tapasi Mondal officially left the BJP and joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on March 10. Days after switching parties, she was appointed Chairperson of the West Bengal Women & Child Welfare and Social Welfare Department. This department is currently headed by Minister Shashi Panja. The opposition has alleged that the ruling party rewarded Mondal for her defection.

Tapasi Mondal won the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections from Haldia on a BJP ticket. However, over time, her relationship with the party grew strained. On March 10, she formally joined the TMC in the presence of Minister Aroop Biswas, who handed her the party’s flag. Her switch came amid BJP’s internal policy changes, including restrictions on MLAs holding district president posts.

Following her departure, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari commented on the move, saying, "Ever since the party issued a circular barring BJP MLAs from becoming district presidents, she removed the BJP logo." Mondal has not responded to the statement, but her exit adds to the list of BJP legislators switching to the ruling party in recent years.

The TMC has been working to strengthen its position in Haldia, an industrial and politically significant region. With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, Mondal’s induction and subsequent appointment have drawn attention. Sources indicate that TMC is likely to field her as its candidate from Haldia in the upcoming elections.

After joining the TMC, Mondal stated that her decision was driven by the goal of contributing to the state’s development. "I have joined the development drive of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to improve Haldia’s industrial infrastructure, job creation, and overall social progress," she said. She now holds a crucial administrative role in the state government, overseeing key welfare initiatives.