West Bengal: ‘I am facing a lot in TMC,’ says MP Satabdi Roy after cryptic message creates stir
The Birbhum MP said she will travel to Delhi on Saturday.
Trinamool Congress Birbhum MP Satabdi Roy on Friday confirmed that a widely circulated statement on social media about how she was at odds with her party was written by her, reported ANI. The actor-turned politician said she was “facing a lot” in the TMC.
The Trinamool Congress leader on Thursday had created a stir when she left a cryptic message on social media. In the message, which was posted on one of her fan pages on Facebook, Roy hinted that she is having problems with the ruling party in West Bengal, and that she may take a decision soon. “If I take a decision, then I will let you know at 2 pm on the 16th of January,” the post read.
However, it was not immediately clear if Roy herself had posted the message or whether the Facebook page, where it was first shared, was an official one.
The post further alleged that Roy has not been informed about many party programmes and the alleged neglect had caused her “mental pain”, according to PTI. “…Recently many people have been asking me why I am missing from several party programmes,” it said. “I want to tell them that I want to attend all programmes. I like to be among you people. But I don’t get to know about many programmes and if I am not even informed about events in my constituency, then how can I go.”
Speaking to reporters on Friday, the three-time Birbhum MP confirmed the authenticity of the post, adding that she had tried reaching out to the TMC leadership multiple times, but it had been “of no use”. “I am facing a lot in TMC,” she added. “The Facebook post is genuine and was done by me.”
The parliamentarian also confirmed that she was travelling to Delhi on Saturday. Roy, however, dismissed speculation about her joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. “If I am going to Delhi it doesn’t mean I am joining BJP,” she said. “I am a parliamentarian and I can go to Delhi.”
At the same time, the actor-turned politician did not rule out the possibility of her meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “There are always chances of meeting people you know but there is no such possibility,” she told reporters, according to PTI.
The TMC leader further announced that she had resigned from the Tarapith Vikash Parishad. “If I am not able to work for the masses then what is the use of continuing in the post,” she said. Roy had twice earlier quit from the council, but they were turned down, unidentified officials told PTI.
Will wait and watch, says TMC
Roy’s ambivalent statements come days after she participated in a march along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in December in Bolpur. Nonetheless, her cryptic comments have left the TMC leadership in a tizzy. TMC parliamentarian Sougata Roy said they will wait and watch what Roy decides. “We cannot say anything before knowing what her decision is,” he added, according to The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, rebel TMC leader Rajib Banerjee said he will also go live on Facebook on Saturday at 3 pm and “speak his mind”.
The TMC has been witnessing an exodus in the run up to the Assembly elections in West Bengal. Several party leaders have switched sides and joined the BJP.
Political turmoil in the Trinamool Congress started after former state minister and a close associate of Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, quit from the party. After a long drawn period of public dissatisfaction with the ruling TMC, Adhikari joined the BJP during Amit Shah’s two-day visit to West Bengal on December 19. Earlier, he resigned from all the positions he held in the Trinamool Congress on December 17. This came a day after he resigned as a member of the Legislative Assembly and almost 20 days after he resigned as West Bengal transport minister. He had quit from the post of chairperson of the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners too.
Fifty TMC leaders will join BJP next month, claims Dilip Ghosh
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party chief Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday claimed that at least 50 Trinamool Congress MLAs will join the saffron party in a month’s time, reported ANI. Ghosh’s comments came in response to West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick’s claim that MLAs who left the TMC were eager to get back to the party fold.
“I ask Mallick Babu to persuade even one booth president to join his party, and I’ll accept his claim,” said Ghosh. “At least 50 of TMC’s MLAs will join the BJP next month.”