Former BJP leader and Union minister Yashwant Sinha joins TMC

Sinha, a senior BJP leader during Atal Bihari Vajpayee rule, told reporters it was call of the hour to ensure TMC win the assembly elections with a thumping majority which will herald defeat of Modi government in 2024 Lok Sabha polls and save the country.

Updated: March 25, 2021 16:54 IST

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Former BJP leader and Union minister Yashwant Sinha joined the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata on Saturday in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brian. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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Sinha said he decided to join the party after the recent “attack” on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on March 10. “The tipping point was the attack on Mamataji in Nandigram. It was this moment that I decided to join TMC and support her,” he said. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee handed over the party flag to Yashwant Sinha after he joined Trinamool Congress Party ahead of West Bengal Assembly Elections, in Kolkata, Saturday. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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Sinha said he had met Mamata this morning for an hour and “talked about many things”. He said the TMC should be strengthened by 2024 to ensure the government at the Centre could change. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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Praising Mamata, Sinha said, “She has remained a fighter. At the time of the Kandahar plane highjack incident, Mamataji proposed to the cabinet that she was ready to be a hostage so others are freed. She was ready to give her life for the country.” (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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Reacting to Sinha joining TMC, veteran party leader Subrata Mukherjee said, “It is a proud moment for us that a leader like Yashwant Sinha is joining our party. Mamata, who was injured in Nandigram and is undergoing treatment, would have been present for the occasion. We will enrich the inclusion of Sinha because, other than Mamata, no other leader has the stature in our party like him.” (Express Photo by Partha Paul)