Kolkata: Speculation started over BJP’s Rajib Banerjee’s defection back to the ruling Trinamool Congress camp after he had skipped the saffron camp’s internal working committee meeting and then his post on social media where the BJP leader without naming anyone slammed Suvendu Adhikari and supported the landslide victory of the Trinamool Congress.
Now, West Bengal Transport Minister Firhad Hakim on Thursday claimed that Rajib is like his "younger brother" and also that he is happy that Rajib has understood his "mistake".
“What exactly had happened and why did he defected to the BJP is not known to me. Even the day before he had defected to the BJP and on the last day of the Assembly we had spoken with each other. He is like my younger brother and good to see he has realized his mistake,” said Firhad.
Asked about the possibilities of Rajib defecting back to the TMC, to which Firhad said that he is no one to decide on anyone joining to the party.
“The party will decide on the joining. We haven’t received any such letter from Rajib. Those who has already expressed their desire the party will decide on their fate,” mentioned the West Bengal Transport Minister.
Notably, the TMC Domjur MLA, Kalyan Ghosh who defeated Rajib by several thousand votes claimed that Rajib is showing interest in returning just to avoid investigation against him.
It is pertinent to mention that after Cyclone Yaas, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had complained against the West Bengal Irrigation and Forest department for not working properly in last 10 years for which such huge damages were caused across East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas post-cyclone.
Incidentally, in the last eight years, Rajib was initially irrigation minister before he was shifted to forest department.
However, West Bengal Transport Minister Firhad Hakim refutes such a claim of the TMC Domjur MLA.
It is pertinent to mention that a day after Rajib Banerjee indirectly supported the ruling Trinamool Congress, posters and banners slamming Rajib was seen across Domjur area of Howrah district.
