NEW DELHI: In a significant blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), three-time MLA and veteran party leader Tapas Roy submitted his resignation from both the party and the West Bengal assembly ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Roy expressed discontent with the party’s leadership, citing a lack of support during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on his residence in January.
Roy, who served as the deputy chief whip in the assembly, criticised the TMC leadership for its handling of the Sandeshkhali incident and alleged corruption within the party and the government. Speaking to the media, he revealed, “I am disappointed with the way the party is functioning. I am fed up with so many allegations of corruption levelled against the party and the government.”
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He particularly pointed out his disappointment with the lack of acknowledgement and support from the party following the ED raid. Roy emphasised, “I resigned because I felt that I was not respected in this party, many times such situations arose where I felt this. The ED team reached my house on January 12th, it has been many days since the incident took place, but no sympathy or cooperation has been received from the party.”
Roy expressed his disillusionment, stating, “TMC is not for me. Wherever I see, there is corruption in this party, it is not right that someone else commits a crime and the rest get punished.” When asked about his future political affiliation, Roy did not provide a clear answer, stating, “I am not going to say anything regarding this.”
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In a further blow to the TMC, Roy accused the party of protecting the corrupt within its ranks. He highlighted the lack of solidarity and communication from the party leadership, stating, “Nobody called my family to console us. Nobody has spoken with me.
At least 40-50 people from the party and outside told me a party colleague was behind the raid.” Senior TMC leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Bratya Basu, attempted to pacify Roy, meeting him at his residence. However, the veteran leader remained firm in his decision to resign.