A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a notable figure in the Sandeshkhali movement, Syria Parveen, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday, attributing her decision to disillusionment with the saffron party and a sense of suffocation within the party’s ranks.

Formerly serving as the secretary of BJP’s Basirhat mandal in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, Parveen’s decision to switch sides was marked by a public event attended by state minister Shashi Panja and TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur.

Addressing reporters, Parveen expressed her disenchantment with the BJP, accusing it of fabricating lies about the situation in Sandeshkhali, PTI reported.

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She pointed to a sting video operation that allegedly exposed BJP leaders’ involvement in instigating women and causing unrest in the area.

The former BJP leader also accused the saffron party of giving money to its Basirhat Lok Sabha candidate Rekha Patra. The grave accusations by Parveen came just days ahead of voting in Basirhat.

“In Sandeshkhali and Basirhat, I tried to be with women who had alleged molestation and harassment. I was fighting for the truth. Later I saw that this was only a story, a script. Mobile, media and money were used in this. And they (BJP leaders) gave instructions through this,” Parveen said while speaking to the media, India Today reported.

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Parveen also lamented that despite initially believing the BJP was advocating for women’s causes, she claimed that the party seemed more focused on politicising issues for its own gain rather than addressing genuine grievances, PTI reported.

Pledging her allegiance to Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, Parveen declared her intent to work towards TMC’s victory in Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, with Sandeshkhali playing a pivotal role in the upcoming elections scheduled for June 1.

In response, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, “Everyone knows that sexual harassment on women of Sandeshkhali was unleashed by local TMC leaders all these years. Parveen’s decision will not change the facts.”

(With inputs from PTI)