Upset with BJP MP's call for North Bengal UT, Alipurduar party president, 6 others to join TMC

Along with Sharma, six other top BJP leaders from the district are also joining the party in presence of TMC leaders, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Bratya Basu.

All the leaders have been in Kolkata since Saturday. They are expected to join the TMC at 1 pm.

BJP MP from Alipurduar, John Barla, has recently said the demand for a separate union territory was raised during a close-door meeting, various media had reported.

Sharma, who led the BJP to win all five seats of Alipurduar in the recently concluded Assembly Polls, has accused the BJP MPs of conspiring to divide West Bengal.

It was under Sharma's leadership only the BJP had won the Alipurduar seat by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes.

Slamming the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC supremo on last Thursday referred to the "strength" of her state's "unity" which she said would deal with the divisionary powers.

"We will not allow 'Banga Bhanga' (division of Bengal). Those who will come to divide Bengal will see the strength of our unity," had said the Chief Minister.

The defections will be key in the current scenario of the state politics as several BJP leaders are openly or secretly willing to crossover to the TMC, which has registered a landslide victory in the 2021 polls.

Also from the TMC's perspective, it would be its apparent boost as the party has performed horribly in the elections this summer.