Another Congress lawmaker crosses over to Trinamool

Continuing the exodus of leaders and workers from the Congress to the Trinamool Congress, another Congress legislator Monday joined West Bengal's ruling party.

Soumitra Khan, who won the assembly polls in 2011 on a Congress ticket from Kotulpur constituency in Bankura district, switched his allegiance along with his band of loyalists to the Mamata Bannerjee-led party.

Khan said he wanted to be a part of the development programmes Chief Minister Banerjee has "initiated across the state".

Welcoming Khan to the Trinamool fold, its national general secretary Mukul Roy said the new entrants would be given due weightage and responsibility in the party.

State minister Jyotipriyo Mullick presented the party flag to Khan, who became the fourth Congress legislator to cross over to the Trinamool since the assembly elections two years back.

Roy said Khan will resign from his seat and seek reelection in a by-poll.

Khan's desertion comes a few days after five time Congress legislator and party state vice president Ajoy Dey joined the Trinamool and resigned as legislator.

Earlier, Humayun Kabir of Rejinagar in Murhsidabad district and Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury of Englishbazar in Malda district switched allegiance to the Trinamool. Both were rewarded with ministerial berths, but Kabir had to resign after he lost the by-election.

In recent months, many elected representatives in municipalities, municipal corporations and panchayat bodies have left the Congress and moved on to the Trinamool.