Kolkata, June 11 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Saumitra Khan said on Thursday that the rebel Trinamool Congress leaders are free to form a separate platform and will not be allowed to join the BJP.

His reaction comes amid a growing rift within the Trinamool Congress, leading to the resignation of several party leaders and MPs.

Previously, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar and West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya had made similar statements that no leader from the Mamata Banerjee-led party will be inducted into the BJP.

Speaking to reporters, Saumitra Khan said: “No one will be taken into the BJP. They (Trinamool leaders) are forming a separate platform; we are not concerned about what they do with the Trinamool Congress.”

Sharpening his attack against the Trinamool Congress, he added: “All of them are corrupt. All Trinamool Congress MPs are involved in corruption. They are all thieves. The public does not like them and has voted against them. People have voted against Abhishek Banerjee and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.”

Responding to questions on Trinamool Congress leader Ritabrata Banerjee, BJP MP Khan said: “Ritabrata is not such a good person that people should worship him. We will not allow Ritabrata to join the BJP. If they are forming a separate platform, let them do it.”

Ritabrata Banerjee is the leader of the new but majority bloc of the Trinamool Congress Legislative Party in the West Bengal Assembly and also the official Leader of the Opposition in the House.

Referring to the case challenging summons to Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee issued by West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, Saumitra Khan said: “He (Abhishek Banerjee) is certain to go to jail. Whether it happens today or after a month, but he will definitely go to jail.”

Earlier on Thursday, in an exclusive conversation with IANS, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee lashed out at Abhishek Banerjee’s “arrogance” and “misbehaviour”, saying he felt humiliated after being sidelined in the legal case.

The rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, comprising some 58 among the party’s 80 elected MLAs led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, along with about 18 of 28 Lok Sabha MPs with Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, has reached a critical point.

The breakaway Trinamool groups claim themselves as the “real Trinamool”, putting party chief Mamata Banerjee in a quandary.

–IANS

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