• Former Naxal-fighting IPS officer Bharati Ghosh is now BJP’s new spokesperson, once called Mamata ‘M

    National
    Former Naxal-fighting IPS officer Bharati Ghosh is now BJP’s new spokesperson, once called Mamata ‘M

    New Delhi: Brave and an epitome of woman empowerment, former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Bharati Ghosh is now all set to roar in the political arena after she was elected as the national spokesperson of the BJP on Sunday.





    Once known to be affectionate with West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) president Mamata Banerjee, and even calling her ‘Ma’ affectionately, fell out with her four years ago, when Mukul Roy, the then Trinamool Congress national general secretary, joined the BJP.





    Also read: Oral sex with minor cannot be deemed as ‘aggravated sexual assault’: Allahabad High Court





    Ghosh was known to be close to Roy and, soon after his defection, she took voluntary retirement for “personal reasons” in December 2017. She had just been transferred out of her position as Superintendent of Police of the Naxal violence-affected West Midnapore district to a less prestigious posting as the commandant of the third battalion of the state’s armed police forces. More serious problems soon followed.





    In 2018, several charges were slapped against Ghosh, who is currently facing at least 19 cases, including attempt to murder, rioting, leaking official documents, and holding disproportionate assets.





    In February 2019, Ghosh joined the BJP, in a decision that she described as “revenge” against the TMC, according to some news reports. While Mukul Roy has since returned to the TMC, Ghosh’s elevation as national spokesperson suggests that the BJP is keen to retain her.





    Ghosh's induction in the BJP as its spokesperson, sees her riling up her past differences with the TMC which she now decides to take on more furiously.