Bengali film actress Parno Mittra, who joined the BJP six years ago and contested the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections on a saffron party ticket, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday. The ruling party in the state welcomed her in the presence of state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and senior TMC leader Jayprakash Majumder.
After joining the TMC, Mittra described her decision to align with the BJP as a “mistake.” Following her defeat in the 2021 Assembly polls, she had largely remained inactive in politics.
During the induction programme, Mittra did not clarify whether she plans to contest the upcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing party workers, she called the occasion special and said it marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Mittra said she would move forward under the guidance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee. Explaining her departure from the BJP, she said she had joined the party six years ago, but the association did not work out. Stressing the importance of correcting mistakes, she said she felt fortunate to have been able to do so.
Senior TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya said Mittra had contacted the party herself after being impressed by the state’s development under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. She welcomed the actor into the party.
Reacting to the development, BJP leader and actor Rudranil Ghosh sought to downplay the move, saying Mittra had not been politically active since contesting the last Assembly elections. He added that her joining the TMC would neither benefit the ruling party nor harm the BJP.
Parno Mittra began her acting career in 2007 with the television show Khela and gained widespread recognition after her film debut in Anjan Dutt’s Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na.
Several film personalities, including Dev, Soham Chakraborty, Raj Chakraborty and June Malia, are already associated with the TMC. More actors are expected to join the party ahead of upcoming polls.
