TMC sitting MLA Arjun Singh joins BJP, says disappointed on not getting LS ticket

New Delhi: In a jolt to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ahead of the ensuing General Elections, Arjun Singh, a sitting MLA of TMC, on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here.

Arjun Singh represents North 24 Pargana's Bhatpara constituency.

He was unhappy with the party decision of providing Lok Sabha ticket to Dinesh Trivedi from Barrackpore as he himself wanted to fight from there.

On Tuesday, former TMC MP Anupam Hazra also joined the BJP in the presence of party leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya and Mukul Roy.

Congress MLA Dulal Chandra Bar and CPM MLA Khagen Murmu have also joined the BJP.

Addressing the media at the BJP office, Singh said that he was shocked at Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's comments on the Pulwama terror attack.

"I gave 30 years to Mamata Banerjee. I was shocked at her comments on the Pulwama terror attack. Her statement has shaken the country. When the Indian Air Force carried out the strike, she demanded the body count of terrorists. If a leader does not have national interest on her mind then she cannot do any good to her voters," Singh said.

The four-time MLA from Barrackpore is likely to contest on a BJP ticket in the Lok Sabha polls against TMC heavyweight Dinesh Trivedi, sources said.

They added that Singh was upset with Banerjee for not giving him a ticket. "Earlier the TMC used to stand for Maa, Mati, Manush, now it is only money, money and money," Singh said attacking Banerjee.

Singh is the latest entry into the BJP from the TMC. Earlier, expelled TMC MP Anupam Hazra joined the saffron party. The BJP is aiming to get a sizeable number of seats in West Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Arjun Singh is the four-term lawmaker from Bhatpara, with a hold in several other Assembly segments in the Barrackpore parliamentary seat.