Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins TMC ahead of polls

Yashwant Sinha, the former BJP leader, an avowed critic of the Narendra Modi government joined the Trinamool Congress ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections 2021.

"The country is facing an unprecedented situation today. The strength of democracy lies in the strength of the institutions of democracy. All these institutions including the judiciary have become weak now," Sinha said after joning TMC.

Taking a dig at the BJP, he said, "BJP during Atal Ji's time believed in consensus but today's government believes in crushing and conquering. Akalis, BJD have left the BJP. Today, who is standing with BJP?"

The veteran BJP leader joined his new party today at the Trinamool Bhawan in Kolkata in the presence of Derek O Brien, Sudip Bandopadhyay and Subrata Mukherjee.

Speaking about Sinha's joining, Mukherjee stated: "We are proud to have Yashwant Sinha joining us."

The upcoming Bengal elections are being seen as a direct fight between two-term Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the BJP, which has seen a resurgence there in the recent past.

The eight-phased Assembly polls in the state will begin on 27 March. Counting of all votes will be held on 2 May.