Major Blow To TMC: Gopiballavpur MLA Khagendranath Mahato Joins BJP Ahead Of Polls

Jhargram: The Trinamool Congress has suffered a major setback in the Jangalmahal region ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Khagendranath Mahato, the outgoing MLA from Gopiballavpur, has officially joined the BJP.
According to party sources, Mahato was deeply disgruntled after being denied a ticket for the upcoming elections. Upon finding his name missing from the TMC’s candidate list, he accused the party leadership of neglect and tendered his resignation. He formally accepted BJP membership during an event held in Kolkata.
Political observers believe that this defection could alter the vote-bank dynamics in the region. The BJP has made this strategic move to capitalize on Mahato’s strong influence within his community. Conversely, the Trinamool Congress has attributed this development to anti-incumbency, stating that it was necessary to give opportunities to new faces. Occurring just prior to the elections, this political shift has made the electoral battle in Gopiballavpur even more intriguing.