In a major embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two party workers with whom BJP President Amit Shah had lunch last week in Naxalbari, have joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Raju Mahali and wife Geeta Mahali joined the TMC in the presence of West Bengal Tourism Minister Goutam Deb in Siliguri.

A red-faced BJP claimed that the two BJP workers were abducted and forcibly made to join the Trinamool Congress.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TWO BJP WORKERS JOINING RIVAL TRINAMOOL CONGRESS: Raju Mahali and Geeta Mahali were the face of the BJP which is trying to reach out to tribals, who are an important votebank. BJP President Amit Shah kicked off his three-day West Bengal visit with a lunch at the Mahali household on April 25. Addressing party workers, Amit Shah said, "I may have addressed several rallies across the country, but let me tell you nothing is more satisfying than today's meeting in this tiny village in Bengal". A week later, Raju Mahali and Geeta Mahali, residents of South Kotiajote in Naxalbari police station area, joined the Trinamool Congress. TMC leader and state minister Goutam Deb read out a note stating that the husband and wife joined the party without pressure from any quarter and were following in the footsteps of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP, however, alleged that the couple was abducted. Party leaders alleged that despite repeated requests, the local police did not register a formal complaint into the incident. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs S S Ahluwalia and BJP MP from Darjeeling said, "Raju Mahali has been missing since 10 pm on Tuesday... his wife and children (missing) since 5.30 pm. We believe they were kidnapped and the TMC is doing all this with muscle power." Goutam Deb said, "I was with them at the rally, and I will talk to Geeta and Raju Mahali on what kind of work they want to do." The minister in the Mamata Banerjee government said, "Politics is never forceful. Our chief minister has created an Adivasi development department for the marginalised section of society."

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