BJP MP Locket Chatterjee’s visit to the residence of TMC's Lok Sabha member Sisir Adhikari, who is also the father of political heavyweight and the saffron party's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari, has raised speculations that the veteran leader might switch camp ahead of the Bengal assembly polls.
"It was a courtesy lunch. Sisirda is a senior politician and the Adhikari family is synonymous with Medinipur (of which Nandigram is a part). He had once praised my Lok Sabha speech. We share good rapport. He requested me to visit him again," the BJP leader said.
Chatterjee, who had lunch at the Adhikari residence at Contai, stressed that it was "courtesy call", and Sisir Adhikaris political move was not discussed during the meeting, even as political corridors went abuzz with murmurs that the TMC MP might join the saffron camp during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state later this month.
She, however, clarified that the BJP would welcome the TMC MP with open arms if he decides to join the party.
Sisir Adhikari, on his part, told reporters that two of his sons are BJP members, and "Locket visiting his residence should not surprise anyone. Why should anyone have their eyebrows raised when a leader makes a courtesy visit?"
Veteran TMC leader Sougata Roy, when approached, said "Sisirda has largely remained inactive in the recent times... We will urge him not to join the 'dal badal' (party changing) game, given his advanced age and ailments."
BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya claimed that all of Purba Medinipur wants the Adhikari family patriarch to join the saffron camp.
Notably, Suvendu Adhikari and his brother Soumendu, who also joined the BJP two months ago, were not at home during the BJP MP's visit to their residence.
Their other brother, Dibyendu -- also a TMC MP – was present at the lunch meet.
(With PTI inputs.)
