Speculation rife in Bengal over Suvendu Adhikari joining BJP

Kolkata, Dec 15 : Former West Bengal Transport and Irrigation Minister and Trinamool Congress heavyweight from East Midnapore district Suvendu Adhikari is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposed visit to Bengal this week, sources close to him said.
Insiders said Adhikari may also travel to Delhi seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before Dec 19. The Nandigram legislator may resign as an MLA before joining the saffron brigade. Sources said that Adhikari may fly to the national capital on December 17.
“I have also heard that Suvendu Adhikari may join the BJP. He is welcome in the party if he wishes to join us. We will give him opportunities to work for the people in Bengal,” BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh said.
It was also learnt from sources that BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya spoke to Adhikari on Tuesday for about four minutes wishing him on his birthday.
While addressing an apolitical meeting at Haldia observing the 121st birth anniversary of freedom fighter Satish Samanta, Adhikari said that he would work towards generating employment for the youth, improve agriculture and restoring democracy in Bengal in the days to come.
“Nandigram was a people’s movement. It never belonged to any particular political party or any individual,” Adhikari said, adding that he doesn’t believe in launching personal attacks. Without taking any name, he said that people would give a befitting reply to tainted politicians in Bengal.