India, July 10 -- Former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik joined the BJP on Thursday evening in the presence of State BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya. Within hours, they were named the saffron party's candidates for the Rajya Sabha bypolls from West Bengal, underlining their political rehabilitation.

"Three very deserving leaders, Mr Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Ms Sushmita Dev and Mr Prakash Chik Baraik, have today joined the BJP today. There is no need to refer to their past affiliations as even Sadhus have their pasts.," Bhattacharya said.

"Today and at present, they are BJP members and would work for the progress of West Bengal under the leadership of world's most popula...