Kolkata: It seems that exodus from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal is on the rise. Top leaders and grassroot level workers in various districts are leaving the Trinamool Congress and joining the BJP. Well there is another dark cloud about to engulf the party.
Birbhum district MP Satabdi Roy has hinted that she is having problems with the ruling party in West Bengal. Roy has said she may take a ‘decision’ Saturday. The actor-turned-politician, in a Facebook post, claimed that she is not being informed about party events in her constituency. She said this has caused ‘mental pain’ to her.
The three-time MP is currently is on her way to New Delhi. Roy said she will inform the public at 2.00pm Saturday if she takes any ‘decision’.
Roy’s post has created ripples in the TMC, which promised to reach out to her. As per party sources, Roy is having differences with Birbhum district TMC chief Anubrata Mondal. The latter is known to be the strongman of the district.
“I have a close connection with this (Birbhum) constituency. But recently many people have been asking me why I am missing from several party programmes. I want to tell them that I want to attend all programmes. But I don’t get to know about those. If I am not even informed about events in my constituency, then how can I attend? I was mentally pained because of this,” the post on Satabdi Roy Fans’ Club page read.
Roy said she has spent more time with the people of her constituency than her own family in the last 10 years. Even her enemies can’t discredit her on this account.
“So, this year I am trying to take some decisions so that I can spend the entire time with you. I am grateful to you. You have been supporting me since 2009. Hope you will support me in the coming days too,” the post read.
When contacted, Roy confirmed that the post was indeed made by her. “I have tried to reach out to the leadership but it has been of no use. If I am not able to work for the masses then what is the use of continuing in the post,” she told reporters.
When asked whether there are chances of joining the BJP, she refused to reply. She was asked whether she would meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. “There are always chances of meeting people you know but as of now there is no such possibility,” Roy said.
Roy was last seen with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a roadshow in Bolpur, December 29. She had first contested and won the Birbhum seat on a TMC ticket in 2009. Roy also won from the seat in 2014 and 2019.
Another senior TMC leader and state minister Rajib Banerjee has also been maintaining distance with the TMC. He in a social media post that he will reveal his next step in a ‘Facebook live programme’ Saturday afternoon.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the BJP bagged 18 seats in West Bengal. Since then, 14 legislators of the TMC, four from the Left Front and two from the Congress have joined the saffron party. None of them, however, have resigned from their posts.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are due in April-May.