BJP MP's wife joins TMC; upset leader says he is divorcing her

Shortly after, incensed by his wife's action, Khan said he would be sending a divorce notice to Sujata, and urged her not to use his surname anymore

A BJP MP in West Bengal declared that he would divorce his wife soon after she switched sides to the Trinamool Congress.

The strange turn of events happened on Monday after Saumitra Khan’s wife Sujata Mondal Khan joined the TMC in the presence of senior MP Saugata Roy and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.

Within hours, Khan announced at a hurriedly convened press conference that he would send a divorce notice to Sujata and end their decade-long relationship. “Sujata, you made a big mistake. Please don’t use my surname anymore,” said Khan as he broke down in tears.

Meanwhile, Sujata accused the BJP of ignoring her though she risked her life while campaigning for her husband in the Bishnupur constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Even after her husband emerged victorious, he was not able to enter the constituency due to legal issues. “Corrupt and inefficient leaders are getting key posts in the BJP whereas those who put their lives at risk are being ignored. I was physically attacked, but the BJP gave me nothing in return,” said Sujata, who now wants to work for “our beloved didi (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) and dada Abhishek Banerjee (Mamata’s nephew)”.

Asked whether her decision to join the TMC would in any way affect her marriage, Sujata said she was hopeful that her husband would understand her decision one day and might even return to the TMC.

But an emotional Khan told the press conference, “Sujata, I am releasing you from all kinds of bonds. Now there are no more attachments.”

Khan, who is the state unit president of the BJYM, joined the saffron party after leaving the TMC ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.