Jyotirmoyee Sikdar joins Trinamool

Kolkata: Former CPI(M) MP Jyotirmoyee Sikdar joined Trinamool Congress on Thursday. Sikdar, an athlete and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee in 1998-99, was elected from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat in 2004. She was defeated by Trinamool Congress candidate Tapas Paul in 2009.

Sikdar was a close aide of former Sports minister Subhas Chakraborty. She had taken part in CPI(M)'s campaign in the 2016 Assembly election.

After joining Trinamool Congress along with 200 CPI(M) supporters, the former MP said she was attracted by the all-round development carried out in Bengal by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.