WB Opp Parties Taunt BJP For RS Seat To Koel

KOLKATA: Hours after BJP nominated a fourth Trinamul Congress turncoat, Koel Mallick, for a Rajya Sabha berth, the opposition parties of West Bengal questioned its choice to pick a face from the party it defeated in the Assembly Election five months ago.

While Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, who now belongs to Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, wondered why his party chief earlier made Ms Mallick a Rajya Sabha MP, Congress took a swipe at BJP for failing to find a candidate from within.

Mr Ghosh said, “It was Ms Banerjee who decided to send Ms Mallick to Rajya Sabha. Now that she is no longer a chief minister, Ms Mallick joined the BJP. That’s why questions surface why Ms Banerjee allowed such stuff in her party once.”

He added, “Late Pranab Mukherjee often said Mamata turned TMC into an inherent coalition by inducting renowned faces from all walks of life of the society. The list included doctors, actors and sportspersons. But some traitors have taken the magnanimity of Mamata for granted and showed that all should not follow her path.”

State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said, “Ranjit Mallick (noted film star and father of Ms Mallick) had conveyed his affection to Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour MP) by putting his hands on his shoulder. He also did the same to Suvendu Adhikari who in turn touched his feet. I then predicted Koel singing like a Doyel soon.”

He added, “But it is the most painful for those in RSS and BJP who have been deprived despite making sacrifices. BJP earlier declared its battle against corruption but is roping in those from the corrupt only.”

State BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar however said, “It is purely our party’s internal decision on whom to send to Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

Our top leadership took the decision after a discussion. Those, who can be vocal for the people of Bengal in the parliament and didn’t torture them in the past 15 years, and came to our party, were screened before their selection.”