BJP Leader Suresh Saw Joins TMC Ahead of Polls, Sparks Political Row in Hooghly

Kolkata, April 2026 : In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming elections, Suresh Saw, Vice President of the Hooghly organisational district of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), switched allegiance to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday, dealing a setback to the BJP in the region.

Saw formally joined the TMC at a public rally held in Dunlop, where the party’s All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee welcomed him into the fold. During the event, Saw was handed the party flag by Banerjee, while TMC candidate Debangshu Bhattacharya greeted him in a traditional manner, symbolising his induction.

Addressing the gathering, Saw made bold claims about the BJP’s electoral prospects in Hooghly, asserting that the party would fail to win even a single seat in the district this time. He went further to remark that the BJP might soon struggle to find supporters willing to carry its flag in the area.

His move comes after days of speculation about a possible defection. Explaining his decision, Saw alleged that despite his efforts to strengthen the BJP at the grassroots level, he felt betrayed by the party leadership. He accused senior leaders of repeatedly making mistakes and failing to learn from them.

“Party workers have been mistreated for a long time,” Saw said, adding that internal dissatisfaction had been growing within the BJP ranks. He maintained that his switch was driven by both ideological differences and dissatisfaction with the party’s functioning.

Saw was not alone in his defection. Several others also joined the Trinamool Congress during the same event, with Saw claiming that more leaders and workers would follow suit in the coming days. He reiterated his belief that the BJP’s organisational structure in Hooghly would weaken further as more members leave.

However, the BJP downplayed the development and dismissed Saw’s departure. Subir Nag, the party’s candidate from Chunchura, alleged that Saw had been working against the BJP for a considerable period and was already in touch with the TMC.

“He had been planning to join Trinamool for a long time. His exit will not affect the party,” Nag said, suggesting that the move would not harm the BJP’s electoral prospects.

Nag also claimed that Saw had played a role in the defeat of senior BJP leader Locket Chatterjee in previous elections, further questioning his loyalty to the party.

The defection has intensified political tensions in Hooghly, with both sides trading sharp remarks. As the election campaign gathers momentum, such high-profile switches are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the political narrative in the region.