This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Amid Rumours Of Him Joining BJP, Close Mamata Aide Mukul Roy Quits TMC

Roy said he would give an explanation on why he was "forced to do so" after Durga Puja.
Pacific Press via Getty Images

KOLKATA -- Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy announced his resignation from the party on Monday.

Roy said he would quit the party's working committee today and resign as Rajya Sabha MP as well as from the party's primary membership after Durga Puja.

"I was one of the signatories when the party was founded. I am announcing with a heavy heart that I will resign from the party's working committee today."

"And after the Durga Puja festival, I will resign from the Rajya Sabha and also from the primary membership of the party," Roy said at a press conference.

Roy, whose relationship with the leadership has been strained of late, said he would give an explanation on why he was leaving the party and why he was "forced to do so" after Durga Puja.

TMC, the ruling party in West Bengal, had last week censured Roy for allegedly hobnobbing with BJP leaders and said it was keeping a close watch on him.

Asked whether he would join the BJP in days to come, Roy said, "Whatever I have to say. I will say it after Durga Puja. But I would like to mention that people of Bengal don't like political controversies during Durga Puja,".

Once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy was absent from an event to unveil the Durga Puja edition of the TMC mouthpiece, Jago Bangla, on 19 September.

Banerjee and the entire TMC top brass, barring Roy, was present at the event.

Roy was recently removed as the TMC vice president after the party decided to restructure its committee.

He was earlier removed as the party's in-charge of Tripura, where the TMC was steadily making inroads till its members switched over to the BJP earlier this year.

Also on HuffPost India:

2005

Rafael Nadal's 10 French Open Titles

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.