Joy Guha leaves Trinamool, cites development concerns, joins BJP in Dinhata

In a significant pre-election development, Joy Guha, nephew of North Bengal Development Minister and Trinamool candidate Udayan Guha, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday. The event took place in Dinhata, with BJP district president Abhijit Barman, BJP candidate Ajay Roy, and other leaders present. Joy Guha cited dissatisfaction with Trinamool policies and alleged corruption as reasons for his switch, claiming that only the BJP can restore Bengal’s former glory.

During the announcement, Joy Guha stated, "I was involved with leftist organizations since my student days and later joined the Trinamool. But the development of the Trinamool meant losing money, which is why I left and joined the BJP." He warned that Bengal’s political environment has deteriorated under Trinamool rule and urged voters to support BJP in the upcoming elections. Despite the high-profile defection, the local Trinamool leadership has downplayed the incident. Nilanjan Brahm, nephew of Udayan Guha and Trinamool candidate for Dinhata, called it "cheap politics before the elections" and emphasized that the party’s development work in the region remains unmatched. He recalled a similar incident in 2024 when a relative joined BJP, which had no electoral impact, asserting that voters prioritize development over political defections.

Political analysts in Dinhata consider Joy Guha’s joining BJP significant for the constituency, given his family connections. Both Trinamool and BJP have intensified campaigning, with Udayan Guha representing Trinamool and Ajay Roy contesting for BJP. The contest is expected to be closely watched, as any shifts among local influential families could influence voter sentiment.