Kolkata: Abdul Rezzak Sarkar, sitting CPI(M) MLA from Jalangi in Murshidabad joined the Trinamool Congress on Thursday.
Sarkar, along with his followers joined the TMC in the presence of Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister. Adhikari looks after Murshidabad district on behalf of the party.
After joining the Trinamool Congress, Sarkar said he was fascinated by the development work carried out in the district under Mamata Banerjee.
"CPIM has become insignificant in Bengal politics and to take part in the development work which is being carried out by the Chief Minister, I have joined the TMC," he said.
With Sarkar joining the Trinamool, the number of CPI(M) MLAs in West Bengal Assembly has gone down to 26.
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee had assigned Adhikari to look after the district.
Under Adhikari's able leadership, the Trinamool Congress did well in the Panchayat elections bagging the Zilla Parishad.
Adhir Chowdhury of the Congress who used to consider himself to be the final word in Murshidabad has been marginalised.
Many Congress workers have joined the Trinamool Congress and even some
of the close associates of Chowdhury are now with the Trinamool.
In the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, it will be difficult for him to retain the seat.