Former Congress MLA Shankar Malakar joined the Trinamool Congress on TMC Bhavan 4 June 2025. Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri
The head of the Congress of West Bengal and the former MLA Shankar Malakar joined the Congress of Trinamool on Wednesday (June 4, 2025), increasing the electoral prospects of the State Ruling Party in the elections to the assembly of 2026.
Mr. Malakar, the leader of the congress veteran from Northern Bengal, was also the former president of the Darjeeling District Congress Committee. When he joined Calcutta, the leaders of the Congress of Trinamool Subrata Bakshi and Aroop Biswas were present.
While the leadership of the State Congress excluded Shankar Malakar, the former leader of Congress said he had already sent a resignation to the President of the Mallikarjun Kharge Congress. He accused the party of Bharatiya Janata (BJP) of practicing the division by promising to carve independent states from northern Bengal. He said that only Congress Trinamool could fight saffron in West Bengal.
Since the Trinamool came to power in 2011, a number of congress leaders have joined the state ruling party. Mr. Malakar was one of the few who continued with a big old party. He stressed the fact that the share of the party’s vote in the state fell to 3% and the state management and central leadership are not interested in increasing the prospects of the party in West Bengal.
Congress lacks direction
“Congress lacks direction today and connects to the local level in Bengal. I felt that work as a leader of the opposition, I could do little for people and was isolated from people,” Malakar said. A 70 -year -old man said the leadership of the State Congress lacks the initiative and the central leadership is soft to the parties that are political opponents of the party in West Bengal.
Mr. Malakar represented the seat of the assembly of Matigaro Naxalbari for two term of office in 2011 and 2016 and is a prominent leader of the planned caste. Political observers say that his presence will strengthen the trinamool prospects in northern Bengal, especially in Matigaro Naxalbari, the headquarters held by BJP. Former President of the State Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he was grinded by Malakar’s departure.
Defection comes three weeks after the former BJP deputy from Alipurduar John Barla joined the Trinamool Congress. Political observers believe that these defects will help the Congress of Trinamool in surveys for the assembly of next year. BJP has a stronger support base in North Bengals than in South Bengals and most deputies and MLA of the party come from the region.
Published – 4 June 2025 22:39
