“Betrayal due to fear or greed”: TMC MP Dola Sen on three former party MPs defection to BJP

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 10 (ANI): Terming the defection of three former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP, Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen said that the exit of former leaders will make "no difference" to the opposition party in West Bengal.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata after the three prominent former TMC leaders, Sushmita Dev, Prakash Chik Baraik, and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, switched to the BJP, Sen emphasised that party leaders are secondary to Mamata Banerjee and the mandate of the common people.
"It makes no difference. We have already responded to this, and the public will respond too. We are all secondary factors. Mamata ji nominates us and asks the people to vote for us, and that is how we get votes and become MPs or MLAs. It doesn't really matter," Dola Sen said.
Taking a sharp dig at the departing leaders, the TMC MP suggested that the defections could be driven by personal motives or external pressures, while affirming that the electorate would deliver the final verdict in a democratic setup.
"Let them do as they please; this is a democratic country. Let those who wish to betray do so--it could be due to fear or greed; I don't know, and I don't wish to comment on it. But the common people will answer," Sen added.
Meanwhile, the three leaders were formally inducted at the BJP's state headquarters in the presence of West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya and other senior party officials. Within hours of induction into the party, the BJP fielded them for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls in West Bengal.
The bypolls will be held on July 24, with counting of votes on the same day, after the seats fell vacant following the resignations of the three former TMC leaders last month.
The move has drawn sharp reactions from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC leaders.
Meanwhile, welcoming the three leaders into the party, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said they had reposed faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
TMC is currently facing rebellion both in the Assembly and Parliament after its loss in the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections. (ANI)