TMC MP Saugata Roy Says He Turned Down BJP Offer, Pledges Loyalty Amid Party Turmoil
Amid growing unrest within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy has claimed that he was approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with an offer to join its ranks, but chose to remain loyal to the party that brought him electoral success.
Speaking to ANI, Roy said he had indeed received an invitation to switch sides but rejected it outright. Emphasising his commitment to the Trinamool Congress, he stated that he would continue to stand by the party under whose symbol he won the election.
His remarks come at a time when the TMC is facing internal challenges, including the resignation of senior Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who stepped down from both the party and Parliament while criticizing what he described as the party’s “15 years of anarchical rule.”
Dismissing the significance of Ray’s resignation, Roy questioned the political weight of the former MP’s opinions, noting that he had never won a direct election.
The veteran parliamentarian also brushed aside concerns about rebel factions within the party attempting to challenge TMC’s election symbol, asserting that such matters are decided by the Election Commission and that no such situation currently exists.
The developments come as reports suggest that a section of Trinamool legislators and MPs are expressing dissatisfaction with the party leadership. Some rebel leaders are also believed to be in discussions with BJP leaders in New Delhi, further fueling speculation about a widening rift within the ruling West Bengal party.
Despite the ongoing turbulence, Roy’s statement signals that key senior leaders continue to back Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress leadership.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
