Two-time CPM MLA from Nabagram in Murshidabad, Kanai Chandra Mondal, joined the Trinamul Congress on Sunday, saying the Left party was not doing enough to combat the BJP’s communal politics.

Transport and environment minister and Trinamul observer for Murshidabad, Suvendu Adhikari, handed over the party flag to Mondal at a public rally at Rosulpur football ground in Nabagram.

“I had been a CPM member since 1978. But I am sorry to say that the CPM has not undertaken any political programme in Murshidabad to fight the communal BJP. This prompted me to join Mamata Banerjee’s party who alone is fighting the saffron brigade in Bengal,” Mondal said after joining Trinamul.

The MLA also said as an elected representative of Nabagram, he wanted to join the development agenda of the Mamata government.

Murshidabad district CPM secretary Mriganka Bhattacharya said: “We had information on Kanai Mondal’s hobnobbing with the Trinamul camp. We had warned him earlier. He turned out to be a traitor. We have expelled him from the party.”

Murshidabad had four CPM MLAs and with Mondal’s switch to Trinamul, the number was brought down to three. With Mondal, three Left MLAs have joined Trinamul so far.

Adhikari hinted that more leaders from the Congress, CPM and the BJP were in the queue to join Trinamul. “Lot more surprises are in store. Initially, our party had only four MLAs in Murshidabad. Now the count is 11 after six from the Congress and Mondal joined Mamata Banerjee’s development brigade,” he said.