Kolkata: Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Tapas Roy on Wednesday joined the BJP. This comes two days after he quit the party citing “disillusionment” with the TMC leadership.
Accusing the TMC and its chief Mamata Banerjee of abandoning him during challenging times, Roy expressed frustration over the party’s silence when his residence was raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 12. The TMC countered, alleging that Roy was pressuring for a ticket from the North Kolkata seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Speculation arose about Roy’s next move, whether he would join the BJP or any other opposition party in the state, though he had said he would make that decision in due time. The TMC dismissed Roy’s allegations as baseless, questioning the timing of his resignation and pointing out his history of switching party allegiance.
Watch video here:
#WATCH | West Bengal: Former TMC leader Tapas Roy joined BJP today in the presence of West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and West Bengal BJP chief Sukant Majumdar at the BJP party office in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/p0Xo9or1QW
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2024
Tapas Roy joining the BJP comes at the heels of former judged of Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joining the saffron party.
Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court, who tendered his resignation earlier on Thursday, announced his association with the BJP. Gangopadhyay said the party will decide which constituency he will contest from.
Prior to this announcement, he informed reporters that he had submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and planned to meet Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam later in the day as a courtesy visit.
There are speculations that Abhijit Gangopadhyay will contest from the Tamluk seat but a formal word on this awaited. The Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency is a Trinamool Congress bastion and was previously held by Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari later switched over to the BJP.
On Sunday, reflecting on his tenure marked by courtroom dramas, including scuffles, boycotts, and disputes among lawyers and colleagues, Justice Gangopadhyay expressed his readiness to contest elections if offered a ticket, without specifying his political affiliation. He revealed that his resignation letter would be submitted to the President on Tuesday, with Monday marking his final day at the Calcutta High Court.
Read all the World News, Business News, Sports News, Entertainment News, Business News and Opinion here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
