Trinamul suspends Roy

Kolkata: Trinamul Rajya Sabha MP and former railway minister Mukul Roy was on Monday suspended from the party for six years for “anti-party activities. The ruling party in West Bengal, had last week censured Mr Roy for allegedly hobnobbing with BJP leaders and said it was keeping a close watch on him.

Senior Trinamul leader and Member of Parliament Mukul Roy quit the party on Monday, fuelling speculation that he might join the BJP.

Mr Roy also said he was leaving the party “with a heavy heart”, since he no longer held a post in the party.

Meanwhile, Trinamul has suspended Mukul Roy for six years.

The once-trusted lieutenant, Mr Roy was sidelined by Mamata Banerjee recently and stripped of all posts. He was removed as the party’s vice-president and also thrown out of two parliamentary panels. The difference between Mr Roy and Ms Mamata grew after Mr Roy was grilled by the CBI in the multi-crore Sharada chit fund scam. The party leadership suspected he had “revealed a few secrets” to the investigators.

Mr Roy was also under the party’s watch for his frequent meetings with the BJP leadership in Delhi.

Addressing the media in Kolkata, Mr Roy said, “Today is Mahapanchami. The people of Bengal are celebrating Durga Puja. They would not like to hear about political issues at this time. I will reveal my future plans after the Pujas.”

He added, “My association with the Trinamul began in 1997. With a heavy heart, I inform you that I no longer have any post in the party. I am only a primary member and I belong to the working committee. I am resigning from the committee and have sent an email to the leadership. As soon as Durga Puja ends, I will resign from the Rajya Sabha MP’s post.”