Kolkata/IBNS, Feb. 21 -- Former CPI-M youth leader Pratik Ur Rahaman on Saturday joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC), ending all speculation over his political future.

Rahaman, a prominent face among CPI-M's younger leaders, joined the ruling party of West Bengal in the presence of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the latter's Amtala office in South 24 Parganas.

Soon after the induction, Rahaman criticized CPI-M state secretary Md. Salim, accusing him of running a dictatorship within the Leftist party and maintaining a tacit understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"I will gradually reveal how Md. Salim maintained an understanding with the BJP. Suvendu Adhikari's recent remark refusing to compare me with ...