KOLKATA: Quizmaster and a motivational speaker Barry O’Brien, his wife Denise, market expert Siddhartha Chatterjee, who played Topse in Satyajit Ray’s ‘Sonar Kella’ and ‘Joy Baba Felunath’, and former footballer Sasthi Duley joined BJP on Wednesday.

Barry, the brother of Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Derek O Brien, was a nominated member of the West Bengal assembly representing the Anglo-Indian community between 2006-11 during the Left Front regime. He was till now known for his close affinity with the CPM. Asked to comment on his switching political loyalty, Barry said: “I have good friends in all the political parties and nothing more than that.”

Asked why he joined the BJP at this juncture, Barry said: “My wife and I were busy with our respective work and social welfare activities, which involved senior citizens and education. But now our three children have grown up and we think this is the right time to join full-time politics.”

“I have never before seen a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi, who has been able to reach out to SAARC leaders, including Pakistan, a day after his swearing-in. Soon after assuming office, Modi formed a SIT on black money, an issue which was much deliberated by others but nothing was done,” Barry explained.

For Chatterjee, the attraction was Modi and economic reforms. “I am a chartered accountant and I understand finance. I believe in economic reforms that Modi spoke of,” he said.

State BJP president Rahul Sinha said many eminent people were joining the party as they felt it was the only one which could turn the fortunes of the people of the country under the leadership of Modi.