On Monday, Arvind Sawant, a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly encouraging defections from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Drawing parallels to Maharashtra's political landscape, Sawant expressed concern over reports of 20 TMC MPs communicating with the Lok Sabha Speaker, suggesting such actions cannot occur without external influence. He questioned the integrity of elected officials who abandon the party that enabled their election, stating, "This is the worst game being played by the ruling party, the BJP." Sawant further accused the BJP of attempting to politically isolate the TMC in West Bengal, asserting that the party is trying to undermine its opposition. He also targeted West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, recalling his TMC origins and past corruption allegations against him. Sawant's comments reflect broader concerns among opposition parties regarding defections and political realignments in the lead-up to upcoming elections.