More than 800 opposition party workers join Trinamool

With the 2026 Assembly elections looming, the Trinamool Congress has taken a big step to consolidate its ground in East Medinipur. At a massive solidarity meeting in Haldia on Thursday, 833 people from BJP, CPM, and Congress switched sides and joined the Trinamool Congress. This marks a significant political shift in the district, known for its fierce political battles.

Party supporters and workers from Nandigram, Haldia, Mahishadal, and Tamluk—covering various Assembly constituencies—were present at the event held in Durgachak New Market, Haldia. They formally joined the ruling party by taking the Joraful (twin flowers) flag from State Trinamool Congress General Secretary Tanmoy Ghosh in a symbolic gesture of allegiance.

This move comes in the wake of Trinamool’s poor performance in East Medinipur during the Lok Sabha elections. Determined to regain lost ground, the party has started rebuilding its structure from the booth level to the district level across Purba Medinipur. The leadership is now actively focused on strengthening the grassroots before the crucial 2026 Assembly showdown.

Interestingly, not just political workers but members of workers’ organizations from Haldia’s industrial belt—especially those formerly aligned with BJP and CPM—also joined the Trinamool at this event. Their switch is seen as an indicator of shifting political loyalties in one of Bengal's key industrial zones.

Senior leaders including Tamluk Organizational District President Asit Bandopadhyay, Haldia City Trinamool President Milan Mandal, MLAs Sukumar Dey, Tilak Chakraborty, and Tapsi Mandal were present. They addressed the gathering and emphasized the party’s commitment to fighting divisive politics and deprivation allegedly caused by the central government.

General Secretary Tanmoy Ghosh didn’t hold back in his speech. "Not only in East Medinipur, the BJP is crumbling all over Bengal," he said. "We will wipe them out from this district within two months. Even their MLAs will join us soon." The bold statement underscores the aggressive approach Trinamool is taking ahead of the high-stakes election.