Sidelined Chandan Mitra quits BJP, rumoured to join Mamata Banerjee-led TMC

Chandan Mitra, two-time Rajya Sabha MP and the Pioneer editor-in-chief quit BJP on Wednesday, Jul 18. The veteran journalist is rumoured to join Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Saturday. As per sources, he was sidelined by the Modi-Shah axis of power in the BJP and was believed to be discontent. In his resignation letter to the party, he has expressed unhappiness about some of its policies. In his resignation letter to the party, Mitra has expressed unhappiness about some of its policies.

Mitra had been Rajya Sabha MP in 2003 and 2010 also contested unsuccessfully as the BJP Sabha candidate from Hooghly constituency, West Bengal. Well, Mamata Banerjee is likely to hold the annual mega rally of her party Trinamool Congress on upcoming Saturday to celebrate the 1993 Kolkata firing, outside Victoria House. Media reports suggest that the TMC chief has promised that many new faces will join the party.

Reacting to the development, TMC spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien said Mitra was one of the old-timers of BJP and thought he was not getting his due from Modi. He also pointed out that there were rumours that he would resign and would join TMC, as per sources.

Mitra started his career as a journalist with The Statesman as an Assistant Editor in Kolkata and afterwards, he moved to the Times of India in Delhi. He is currently the editor of the Pioneer newspaper in Delhi.