'Opportunist' Mukul Roy's exit will make no difference, says BJP even as concern rise over lobby politics
Several BJP leaders downplayed the impact of Mukul Roy's return to TMC, with Dilip Ghosh saying Roy himself wasn't sure whether the BJP 'gained anything'
The BJP leadership in West Bengal downplayed senior leader Mukul Roy's exit from the party and his return to the Mamta Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, even as some raised concerns over "lobby politics" within the party.
Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said that he was not sure if the BJP would lose anything from Roy's decision, given that he was "unsure whether we gained anything" from his entry three-and-half years back.
"Right now, we are bothered about more serious issues as the cycle of violence goes on unabated in the state. We are bothered about the safety of our workers, who are being targeted by TMC activists," Ghosh added.
BJP state unit vice president Joyprakash Majumder, on his part, extended his best wishes to Roy and said that he should immediately quit all saffron party posts.
"Mukul babu is a veteran leader, he is a known face in Bengal politics. We wish him the best in his new innings but shouldn't he forthwith quit from the primary membership and all other posts of the BJP? Should he not resign as the MLA as he had won a seat on the Lotus (BJP) symbol," Majumder said.
Roy, who held the post of national vice president in the saffron camp, along with son Shubranshu, was welcomed back to the TMC by party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders. He had joined the BJP back in 2017.
Lobby politics in Bengal adversely affecting BJP
Hours before Roy made his re-entry or ghar wapsi into the Trinamool Congress, former MP Anupam Hazra claimed that "lobby politics at play is adversely affecting the party".
Taking to Twitter, Hazra said that it was high time that the state unit of the BJP put an end to the practice and utilise leaders according to their merit. The former MP, who had switched over from the TMC to the BJP in 2018, however, asserted that he will continue to be a part of the saffron camp under all circumstances.
"Too much importance has been accorded to one or two leaders while ignoring and humiliating the rest. That has led to the present sad situation. There is also no trace of the royal passengers who had taken a chartered flight," the academic-turned politician, who had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, said.
Hazra was possibly referring to TMC turncoats Baishali Dalmiya, Rajib Banerjee and Prabir Ghosal, who had taken a chartered flight to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence in Delhi earlier this year.
He further said, "Please don't give me the tag of a disgruntled leader for this post. I am with the BJP and will remain in the BJP. But the dirty lobby politics should come to an end. This is all I want."
A section of state BJP leaders are of the view that Roy and other senior leaders, including Sabyasachi Dutta, were not accorded due importance by the saffron party top brass during the Assembly elections, and only a handful of leaders, such as Suvendu Adhikari and actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty were given all responsibilities.
Hazra hinted that he too was not made a part of important discussions at the party. "Hoping to get an invite to state unit meetings of the BJP as per protocol," he said.