Kolkata, Jan 21: Somen Mitra, who resigned as a Trinamool Congress MP last week, formally joined the Congress party Tues beside his loyalists within the presence of the party’s central leadership.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Pradip Bhattacharya handed over the party flag to the veteran politician at an oversized gathering of zealous staff before its state headquarters Indira Bhavan here.

Congress all India general secretaries Ambika Soni and C.P. Joshi were present to welcome the 70-year-old Mitra, a former state party chief. 2 union ministers from the state, Deepa Dasmunshi and Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, also attended the event.

Beleaguered by a continuing stream of desertions of elective  people’s representatives, organisational leaders and active staff to the ruling Trinamool Congress, the Congress eventually found one thing to cheer.

The festive atmosphere at the venue, with staff returning in hordes from different components of the state with bugles and drums, was associate indicator of the relief and jubilation within the Congress camp.

Mitra resigned from his Lok Sabha seat January 15, inculpative the Trinamool leadership of failing to stay its pre-poll promises when returning to power within the state.

A past arch-enemy of Mamata Banerjee once each were within the Congress, Mitra is thought to be the prime reason for Banerjee’s call to leave the Congress and float another party in 1997.

Later, the arch-rivals turned friends once Mitra joined the Trinamool in 2008 and a year later got elective  as an MP on a celebration price tag from Diamond Harbour within the South 24 Parganas district.