Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien's brother Barry joins BJP

Kolkata, June 4: Close on the heels of winning two Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and increasing its voting percentage, the state BJP wing on Wednesday roped in Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien's brother Barry O'Brien.

Barry a noted quiz master and a motivational speaker, who was a nominated member of the West Bengal Assembly representing the Anglo-Indian community between 2006-11 during the Left Front regime, was known for his close affinity with the CPI(M). Asked why he joined the BJP at this juncture, Barry said: "I have never seen before a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi who had been able to reach out to SAARC leaders, including Pakistan, a day after his swearing-in.

"Soon after assuming office, Modi had formed a SIT on black money, an issue which was much deliberated by others but nothing done," Barry said while explaining his justification in joining the BJP.

Asked to comment on his switching political loyalty, Barry said "I have good friends in all the political parties and nothing more than that." Besides Barry, others who joined the party were footballer Sasthi Duley and market expert Siddhartha Chatterjee, who played the role of 'Topshe' in Satyajit Ray's films.

State BJP president Rahul Sinha told a press conference that many such eminent persons were joining the party as they felt it was the only one which could turn the fortunes of the people of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PTI