Mukul begins poaching oppn leaders for TMC
Within hours of returning to the Trinamul Congress, Mukul Roy is back in the business of poaching Opposition leaders. This has left the BJP worried about its future in West Bengal.
According to sources, at least 10 MLAs and a Lok Sabha MP of the BJP got calls from Roy, their party’s former national vice-president, between Friday night and Saturday morning, inviting them politely to follow his footsteps.
Among the 10, three are from North Bengal — one each from Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and South Dinajpur, BJP insiders revealed. The other seven are from South Bengal. Among them, two are from Purulia and one each is from Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly, sources added.
The Lok Sabha MP who got Roy’s call is also from North Bengal. The state BJP leadership came to know of Roy’s bid after two MLAs informed them. Surprisingly, the rest remained silent, which is being seen as an ominous sign for the BJP.
Flagging his concerns BJP veteran Tathagata Roy tweeted, “Clearly Mukul Roy was a Trojan Horse. After having been welcomed into the BJP, (he) gained access to its all-India leaders and hobnobbed with state BJP’s gullible leaders... having learnt all about the party and its innermost detail, he went back and leaked everything to
BJP LEGISLATURE party chief whip Manoj Tigga said that the leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari was apprised of the overnight development.
Mamata. But what’s done is done. Now the big question is, did Mukul leave back Trojan Horses within this Trojan Horse? (sic)”
BJP legislature party chief whip Manoj Tigga said that leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari was apprised of the overnight development. The party, which won 77 seats in the Assembly election. but was reduced to 74 in the House barely after a month, put up a brave face amid the threat of defection.
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, “Many are known to Mr Roy for a long time. In that sense, he can call them up. I am not bothered about who will stay or leave. Politicians are very clever. They make moves judging the wind. But BJP does not move on Ayaram-Gayaram. Time has come for the dust to go. We are now standing by those party workers who are facing attacks.”
Meanwhile Roy and his son Shubhrangshu informed that they have given up the central forces security cover to them in writing to the Union home ministry. They have been provided the same level fo security by the Mamata Banerjee government after their return to the TMC.