Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, senior Trinamool Congress MLA Tapas Roy on Monday resigned from all posts in the Trinamool Congress and as a member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The three-time MLA, who was elected from Baranagar in the 2021 Assembly polls was visibly agitated over the past few days and had been voicing his discontent in the media.
Tapas Roy was also vocal against veteran Trinamool Congress leader and Kolkata Uttar MP Sudip Banerjee. Speculation is rife that Mr. Roy may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest against Sudip Banerjee from Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha seat.
Mamata ‘failed me’
The former Trinamool leader remained tight-lipped about his plans. Mr. Roy added that Mamata Banerjee did not stand by him when his house was raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kolkata about 50 days ago. He alleged that she did not speak a word on his behalf. The senior leader said the Chief Minister stood by other Trinamool Congress leaders including Sheikh Shahjahan but not him. “I am very sad at these developments,” Mr. Roy said. Leaders across Trinamool Congress expressed their surprise and sadness at his resignation. Some Trinamool councillors of Baranagar area even burst into tears.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari welcomed Tapas Roy’s decision to resign. His resignation comes as a setback to the Trinamool Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
TMC in tumult
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh who has been airing his dissatisfaction over the Trinamool Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Sudip Banerjee, received a show cause notice for speaking against the party. Mr. Ghosh, one of the most vocal voices of the party has announced his decision to quit as general secretary and spokesperson of the party. Mr. Ghosh, however, added that he will remain a loyal soldier of the party and also tried to placate Tapas Roy. Later in the day, Sudip Banerjee reached out to Kunal Ghosh and invited him to tea.
As political temperatures soar ahead of general elections it is not only the Trinamool facing dissent. BJP Rajya Sabha pick from West Bengal Nagendra Rai alias Ananta Maharaj has expressed his displeasure over the BJP Lok Sabha list for West Bengal. The leader who is associated with the Greater Coochbehar movement said that he was not consulted in ticket distribution.
