Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, once the right hand man of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, yesterday announced his decision to quit the party, which hit back by suspending him for six years.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) meanwhile denied that Roy was set to join its fold.
Addressing a press conference here, Roy said he would resign as the primary party member and also from his Rajya Sabha seat after the Durga Puja which concludes on September 30.
“With a heavy heart and pain, I am informing you that I have taken a principled decision. I am not an office-bearer in the party now... I will mail my resignation from the party working committee today itself.
“I’ll quit as Rajya Sabha member after the Durga Puja break. I will also quit my primary membership of the Trinamool after a few days,” he added.
Refusing to give more details, Roy said he would explain the reasons for his decision later.
Roy, one of the founding members of the Trinamool, recalled that he was the first signatory for the party on December 17, 1997, during the its formation process.
Trinamool officially came into being on January 1, 1998.
Hours after Roy’s announcement, the Trinamool slapped a six-year suspension on him for “indulging in anti-party activities”.
“For the past few years, he has been indulging in anti-party activities and trying to weaken the party from within... to serve his own interest,” said party secretary general Partha Chatterjee.
“The Trinamool Congress disciplinary committee has recommended punishment against Mukul Roy to the party’s leader and chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Accordingly, Roy has been suspended for six years from the party.”
Mukul Roy speaks at a press conference in Kolkata yesterday.
