Kolkata: Three days after shifting to Trinamool Congress from BJP, Haldia MLA Tapasi Mondal has been appointed chairperson of Women's Development Board in the state.
The move invited criticism with the opposition saying her new role is a "reward for switching parties, prompting Trinamool to hit back." "BJP will ensure Mondal's defeat in the 2026 elections if she contests on a Trinamool ticket from Haldia," said BJP's Suvendu Adhikari.
Trinamool's spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "BJP is frustrated by the manner in which Mondal left them and joined Trinamool Congress. BJP is unable to get over the loss. In reality, whoever is the next TMC candidate in Haldia is going to win the election."
Mondal joined Trinamool Congress on March 10, citing discomfort with divisive politics, digging a hole in Adhikari's East Midnapore turf, and dragging down BJP's effective strength in the Bengal assembly from 77 seats in 2021 to 65 now.
Mondal, the two-time Haldia MLA, earlier defected from CPM to BJP in 2020. Though Adhikari and BJP's Tamluk MP and former HC judge Abhijit Ganguly chose to make light of the defection, Mondal's induction will allow Trinamool Congress to loosen Adhikari's grip in Haldia township and docks. Trinamool Congress and BJP are now equally poised with eight assembly seats each in East Midnapore's 16 assembly seats.
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