Agartala: It's a big boost for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura and huge setback to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC).

In a major development in the state politics, four hundred Trinamool Congress members, including 16 of the total 65 state committee members of the TMC, joined BJP on Thursday.

The TMC members who joined the saffron party also include former chairman of the Tripura unit of Trinamool Congress, Ratan Chakraborty.

The President of Tripura unit of BJP, Biplab Deb and Union minister of state for Railways, Rajen Gohain, jointly handed over the saffron party flag to Chakraborty.

"BJP is the only political party in the country, which attached maximum importance to develop the backward north eastern region. I have full confidence that BJP would be able to free the state from the clutches of CPI-M and form a government in the 2018 elections to give relief to the people," Chakraborty told a press conference.

Stating that he joined BJP "unconditionally", Chakraborty said, he would strengthen the party by bringing more TMC workers under the BJP banner.BJP "unconditionally", Chakraborty said, he would strengthen the party by bringing more TMC workers under the BJP banner.

Nitai Chowdhuri, a state committee member of TMC, who joined the BJP said, altogether 16 members of the state committee of the total 65 have joined the BJP on Thursday.

Gohain said, "The BJP would get absolute majority in the 2018 state elections in Tripura and the ruling CPI-M would be washed away in a saffron tsunami."