Nandigram violence accused and expelled CPI(M) leader Lakshman Seth joins BJP

Former CPI(M) leader Lakshman Seth, one of the main accused in the 2007 Nandigram violence case, joined BJP in presence of state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh at a programme in Tamluk of East Midnapore district today.
Seth had met Ghosh at BJP's state unit headquarters in Kolkata earlier this week and finalised his joining the party.

A former MP from 1996-2009 from East Midnapore and CPI(M) state committee member, Seth was expelled from CPI(M) for "anti-party activities" in 2014.
After the expulsion, he had floated Bharat Nirman Party but it failed to make any dent in the political space of the state.

Seth became more well-known during the anti-land acquisition agitation in Nandigram in 2007 that led to the killing of 14 people in police firing on March 14 in 2007. The anti-land acquisition movement leaders had alleged his role had caused the flare up of violence culminating in police firing. They also blamed him for atrocities on farmers who refused to part with their land.