Breach of trust: Arjun Singh after TMC denies him Lok Sabha poll ticket

Singh, a strongman from Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas, was present at TMC's mega rally- dubbed as Jonogorjon Sabha- in Kolkata on Sunday.

After he was denied a ticket, a disheartened Singh, who returned to TMC in 2022, said, "I was told that I would get a ticket. I would not have returned to TMC had I known I would not get a ticket. This is a kind of a breach of trust."

"I am not a seasonal fruit. I am a 12-month fruit," he added.

However, Singh did not reveal whether he is aiming to return to BJP.

Reacting to the development, West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said, "We are aware that TMC does not trust Arjun Singh. Arjun Singh has never spoken against BJP leaders in Barrackpore."

When asked whether BJP would welcome him in the partyfold, Adhikari said, "I don't know. I am not the authority to decide. The central leadership of BJP will decide."

Arjun quit TMC in 2019 and crossed over to the BJP. He won from Barrackpore on BJP's ticket.

Singh returned to TMC in 2022, a year after the ruling party returned to power with a massive mandate in 2021 assembly elections.

TMC has fielded state minister and MLA Partha Bhowmick from Barrackpore, a high-voltage seat where BJP is yet to announce a candidate.