‘Messiah of the poor’ Matiur Rahman quits BJP, joins TMC in presence of Bratya Basu

In a significant political development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Matiur Rahman, a prominent minority leader from Malda district and former BJP candidate, joined the Trinamool Congress on Saturday. His entry into the ruling party is being viewed as a setback for the BJP in the politically important Harishchandrapur region of Malda.

Rahman formally joined the Trinamool Congress at a programme held at the party office in Kolkata in the presence of state minister Bratya Basu and Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque. During the event, he symbolically took up the party’s grass-and-flowers flag, marking the end of his association with the BJP.

After joining the party, Rahman expressed confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party leader Abhishek Banerjee. He said that the development carried out in the state over the past 14–15 years had influenced his decision, highlighting improvements in infrastructure and public welfare initiatives.

Rahman also revealed that he had been dissatisfied with the BJP’s policies for nearly a year but had only now decided to formally leave the party. Known locally for his social work and support for economically weaker sections, he had contested the 2021 Assembly elections from the Harishchandrapur seat as a BJP candidate and secured more than 45,000 votes.

Welcoming Rahman into the party, minister Bratya Basu said the BJP’s performance in Harishchandrapur in the 2021 election was largely due to Rahman’s personal popularity rather than the party’s strength. He also accused the BJP of attempting to create political instability in Bengal and misleading voters on issues such as NRC and citizenship.

Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque said the inclusion of grassroots leaders like Rahman would strengthen the party’s organisational base in Malda and nearby districts. He expressed confidence that the party would gain further momentum in the region as more local leaders and supporters join its ranks.