In a blow to the Congress, two more of its legislators in West Bengal switched to the ruling Trinamool Congress on Wednesday.
Congress lawmaker Kantilal Agarwal of Islampur constituency in North Dinajpur and Hasanuzzaman Sk of Kaliagunj seat in Nadia district joined the Trinamool in the presence of its MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Avishek Banerjee.
The duo said they have opted for the Trinamool to be a partner in the massive development initiatives taken by Chief Minister Banerjee.
Earlier, three Congress legislators - former party chief Manas Bhunia, Tushar Bhattacharya and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury - crossed over to the Trinamool.
Congress had bagged 44 seats in the April-May assembly polls in the state.
"Two Congress legislators have joined us today. With Tushar Bhattacharya, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury and Manas Bhunia joining us from Congress and Gazole legislator Dipali Biswas coming to our side from CPI-M earlier, our tally in the state assembly has gone up from 211 to 217," claimed Avishek Banerjee.
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--IANS
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