Kolkata, Oct. 27 -- Contrary to what state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya claimed on Monday regarding the induction of Trinamool Congress leaders into BJP ahead of civic body elections, former state party president and Panchayat minister Dilip Ghosh said there is no place for emotion in politics; if people from Congress can join BJP, members from TMC may also join the saffron party.

"Nothing should be done emotionally; there is no place for emotions in politics. If someone can join from Congress, they can also join from TMC. People have joined before as well. However, the BJP considers whether those who want to join the party have an image and ideology that align with the BJP and whether their views match ours," Ghosh said on Tuesday.

Ghosh argued that leaders or members from the TMC can also be inducted depending on party evaluation. He asserted that political decisions should not be driven by emotional baggage or historical animosities. BJP leaders have, however, maintained that inductees must meet party standards, though internal debates within the Bengal unit persist over welcoming leaders from TMC.

Speculation is ongoing about whether the state BJP will induct some "untainted yet experienced" former Trinamool Congress councillors into the party and field them in the upcoming municipal elections. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that the party had already more or less finalised its candidate selection process, presumably hinting that the saffron camp will not give tickets to former TMC councillors.

Many, however, feel that the BJP lacks adequate leaders who could run an important civic board like KMC's. In an apparent attempt to contain resentment among grassroots party workers and gauge their mood, Bhattacharya has repeatedly maintained that no one from the TMC will be given a ticket in the municipal elections.

Speculation was running high regarding the possibility of seven former TMC councillors from North Kolkata, twelve from South Kolkata and three from the Jadavpur-Tollygunge areas joining BJP. They have been shortlisted at the preliminary stage, it was learnt.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.