Senior BJP Leader Mukul Roy Dumps Saffron Party, Rejoins Trinamool Congress

Kolkata: In a sort of homecoming or ‘ghar wapsi’, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Mukul Roy on Friday rejoined Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Changing political colours has become the norm in West Bengal. But it’s especially significant in Mukul’s case as he was one of the founding members of TMC in 1998 but quit the party in 2017.

He was reinducted into West Bengal’s ruling party in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.

Mukul’s son Subhranshu Roy also rejoined TMC.

“I have joined TMC today. Under the present circumstances, no one will stay in BJP … It feels good to see all the known faces again, having come out of the BJP,” Mukul said.

Welcoming back Mukul, Mamata said he will play an important role in the party without detailing his responsibilities.

Asked whether she would take back others who had left TMC for BJP, Mamata said: “Those who criticized the party, betrayed the party before elections to join BJP for money, we will not consider them. They are gaddars (traitors).”

Mamata was referring to Suvendu Adhikari and some others ahead of the assembly elections.