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Guwahati : After Manipur, another setback to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) after over 400 TMC members including former chairman of the TMC Tripura unit had joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. 
 
The TMC members including 16 of the total 65 state committee members and former chairman of TMC Tripura unit Ratan Chakraborty had joined the saffron party in Agartala.
 
During a meeting held in the capital city of the north eastern Indian state, the TMC members joined BJP in presence of Union minister of state for Railways Rajen Gohain, BJP's Tripura unit president Biplab Deb.
 
Rajen Gohain and Biplab Deb jointly handed over the saffron party flag to Ratan Chakraborty.
 
After joining the saffron party Ratan Chakraborty said to the media that, BJP is only political party in the country, which interested for development in the north eastern region. 
 
'I am confidence that, BJP will form the next government in Tripura in 2018. Only BJP would be able to free Tripura from the clutches from CPI (M),' Chakraborty said.
 
Ratan Chakraborty further said that, he had joined the saffron party unconditionally.  
 
On the other hand, Union minister Rajen Gohain said that, his party will form the next government in Tripura and the ruling party CPI (M) would be washed away in the next assembly poll.
 
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faces setback in Manipur after its lone legislator had joined BJP and help to form the first BJP government in the state. 
 
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)