BJP's West Bengal unit ropes in key personalities

State BJP president Rahul Sinha with Barry O Brien (left), brother of TMC MP Derek O Brien, footballer Sasthi Duley (second from right), and Siddhartha Chatterjee (young Topshe in Ray's Feluda series) in Kolkata on Wednesday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

The State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) roped in key personalities from different disciplines here on Wednesday with Barry O’Brien, brother of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Derek O’Brien, and former international footballer Sasthi Duley joining the party.

Mr. O’ Brien is a prominent member of the Anglo Indian Community in the city. Describing his joining the BJP a ‘natural step’, Mr. O’ Brien, once considered close to the Left parties, said that he could not be an armchair social worker.

A noted quiz master Mr. O’ Brien was all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His wife Denise ‘O Brien also joined the BJP with him.

Asked whether Mr. O’ Brien would serve as the spokesperson of the State BJP like his brother does for the TMC, State BJP president Rahul Sinha said that the BJP did not function like the Trinamool and his responsibility would be fixed in due course of time.

International footballer Sasthi Duley joined the party in the presence of Mr. Sinha. Accusing the Trinamool of targeting supporters of the BJP, particularly women, across the State, Mr. Sinha said, “The more they are targeting our supporters our membership is increasing,” Mr. Sinha said.

TMC taking State to bankruptcy

Referring to the grand celebration organised by the State government for Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, Mr. Sinha said such an event was completely uncalled for.

“Even the court has commented the State government has money to organise festival, but does not have the money to pay compensation to the poor in the State,” the BJP leader said, referring to an observation made by the Calcutta High Court as reported in certain sections of media.

Questioning what ‘Kolkatan’ is in Kolkata Knight Riders, Mr. Sinha said through the felicitation, it was portrayed that the Chief Minister was the principal force behind the team. While the Left Front government has left a debt burden of Rs. 2 lakh crore in 34 years of its rule, Ms. Banerjee has borrowed Rs. 60,000 crore in the last three years. “The Trinamool government is taking the State to a total bankruptcy,” he added.