Soumitra Khan becomes first TMC Lok Sabha MP to join BJP

New Delhi, Jan 9: All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Soumitra Khan joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday in Delhi. Khan joined the party at a press conference following a meeting with its president Amit Shah. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and West Bengal BJP leader Mukul Roy were also present.

Soumitra Khan Lok Sabha MP from Bishnupur, is the first Lok Sabha MP to leave Trinamool Congress and join the BJP. Earlier in November 2017, Mukul Roy, who was once number two in Trinamool Congress and a Rajya Sabha MP, had joined the saffron party.

The Trinamool Congress sought to downplay the crossing over of its MP Saumitra Khan to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, saying it has already expelled the leader from the party.

"He was not in touch with the party for a long time. He was not working in his area properly. He was well aware that he would not be given Lok Sabha ticket this year. We decided to expel him from the party this morning. The expulsion letter has been sent to him," a senior TMC leader told PTI.

According to reports, BJP leader and former TMC member, Mukul Roy, said today that at least five more TMC MPs were in touch with him and were keen on joining the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.