Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Ray And Prakash Baraik Named As BJP Candidates For Rajya Sabha Polls

Last Updated:July 09, 2026, 21:41 IST

Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Ray And Prakash Baraik resigned from Rajya Sabha and quit the Trinamool Congress last month after the party's defeat in the Bengal elections.

The BJP on Wednesday named former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, just hours after the trio formally joined the party.

Dev, Ray and Baraik resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the Trinamool Congress last month after the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections, triggering bypolls for the three vacant Upper House seats.

Given the BJP’s numerical strength in the West Bengal Assembly, all three candidates are widely expected to secure victory and return to the Upper House.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya welcomed the former TMC leaders into the party at its state headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

BJP Calls Induction an ‘Exceptional’ Case

The move marks a notable departure from the BJP’s post-Assembly election stance of keeping Trinamool leaders out of the party. However, Bhattacharya insisted that the induction should be viewed as an exception rather than a change in policy.

“We had said the doors are closed for Trinamool leaders. We stand by that. But those who did not indulge in corruption, did not oppress people, did not sell jobs or snatch away people’s rights were always welcome to join us in the fight against the TMC," he said.

Describing the development as “an exception that proves the rule", Bhattacharya said the experience and political background of the three former parliamentarians would strengthen the BJP’s organisation in West Bengal.

His remarks echoed his earlier position that the party remained open to accommodating leaders from the ruling TMC who were not tainted by allegations of corruption — a stance that had previously drawn criticism from some BJP leaders, including senior party figure Dilip Ghosh.

Former TMC Leaders Target Corruption

Speaking after joining the BJP, Dev, who had switched from the Congress to the TMC in 2021, launched a sharp attack on her former party.

“I realised only after joining the TMC how unbelievable the extent of corruption could be. My critics may point to many shortcomings, but nobody can say I was associated with corruption," she said.

Ray also criticised the TMC over allegations of corruption, while Bhattacharya sought to draw a line under the leaders’ political past.

“Everyone has a past. Their only identity now is that they are BJP workers," he said.

Why Sushmita Dev Joined in Kolkata

Responding to questions about joining the BJP in Kolkata despite being based in Assam, Dev said the decision had been taken by the party leadership.

“I could have enrolled digitally from home. But the leadership decided I should join here. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also told me I should respect the people of Bengal because they elected me to the Rajya Sabha twice," she said.

Bhattacharya added that Dev would be entrusted with responsibilities beyond West Bengal and would work for the BJP at the national level.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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