Denied Ticket For Polls, Trinamool MLA Sonali Guha Hints At Joining BJP

Sonali Guha, once a close aide of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and a four-time MLA of the party, on Saturday hinted at joining BJP after she was denied a ticket for the coming assembly polls in West Bengal.

The TMC MLA, who represented Satgachia seat for the past four terms, had broken down on Friday immediately after getting the news that she was not being given the party ticket this time.

Ms Guha said she will speak to BJP national vice-president Mukul Roy and decide her future course of action.

"I wish to be given a honourable post, be acknowledged as a political personality," Ms Guha said without elaborating.

She said, "May God give Mamata didi good sense and counsel. I have been with her from the beginning. I have to think about my future moves. I cannot sit idle being a political person".

Mr Roy said apart from Ms Guha many other Trinamool MLAs and leaders have contacted him since Friday evening after Ms Banerjee announced the party's candidates for 291 assembly seats in the state.

Several TMC MLAs, an MP and a number of its leaders have already joined the saffron party.

Ms Guha was seen in every movement and rally by Ms Banerjee during her days in the opposition and after TMC came to power a decade ago. She was also a former deputy speaker of the state assembly.