By Akhileshwari Anand Raj
Speculations have been rife in West Bengal political circles, this Durga Puja season, regarding the future of the now-suspended senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Roy. Roy, once the closest aide to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is touted to be contemplating his options. He could either join the BJP or form his own party, which will be in close association with the BJP or be with the National Trinamool Congress (NTC), a party which his close followers formed in 2015.
He dropped hints on October 6th regarding his future course of action by showering praise on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Days before he is to formally announce his separation with the TMC, he stated that the BJP is not a communal party. He went on to say that the TMC has built bridges with the BJP ever since its inception, and was even a part of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
Will he directly join the BJP?
BJPs decision to allow Roy to join them directly could go either way. Roy has allegedly been involved in the Saradha and Narmada scams, against which PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have taken a harsh stance. If he is allowed to join the BJP, the party would lose its anti-corruption image and would give Mamata Banerjee the leeway to state that the allegations of the BJP against her party members are baseless.
Ironically, BJP could do well with the experience of Roy, as they are looking to win at least half of the seats from West Bengal in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Roy has been associated with the TMC since 1997, making him one of the few who knows the partys working inside out. He is also famous for his negotiation skills, with which he has been able to bring many leaders of opposition parties to the TMC. This is also making TMC leaders apprehensive, as they allege that he has the sources to weaken the party from inside.
Opinions
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh had praise for Roys organisational skills, stating that Roy was to be given due credit for where the TMC is now. After meeting a state emissary from New Delhi in Kolkata, Ghosh stated that Roy is welcome to the party, but he would have to say that he wants to join the party and the BJP leaders will take a call thereafter.
P. Chatterjee of the TMC called Roys decision a personal blunder and did not believe that the rebel leader would survive without Mamata Banerjees backing. He further stated that there did not appear to be any Roy loyalist within the party, therefore the party did not have much to worry about.
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