Will Mukul Roys exit trigger a BJP exodus to the TMC in Bengal?
Thats the big question everyones asking in the Bengal BJP, and even in the Trinamool. While some BJP leaders are dubbing the possible deserters unnecessary flab, the TMC flock is unwilling to welcome back the opportunist politicians. On June 14, leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikary led a team of 50 BJP MLAs to Raj Bhawan to table a report on the post-poll violence before governor Jagdeep Dhankar. What created news was the absence of 24 MLAs from the meeting (the BJP has 74 MLAs in Bengal) which led to much speculation about potential defections. The Trinamool camp was exultant about the fact that two dozen BJP MLAs had stayed away. The state BJP is not willing to go record about how many will remain with them, but their explanation for the missing legislators is that most of them were from north Bengal and the lockdown and distance had kept them away. Now the fact is that 30 MLAs had won from the north Bengal districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, South and North Dinajpur and Malda. So if all of them had failed to make it, the numbers present at the governors house would have been much less. The truth is that many MLAs from constituencies closer to Kolkata too didn't attend like those from North 24 Parganas and Burdawan. Fashion designer Agnimitra Paul, who won the Asansol South seat, was also missing. Party insiders say she has been facing adjustment problems with leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikary. Being from the Mukul Roy lobby, she has understandably been sidelined. According to BJP MLA Bankim Ghosh, it would be wrong to read too much into the absence of the MLAs. "Suvendu, in a WhatsApp group message, had asked 30 MLAs to accompany him. But it so happened that around 50 MLAs wanted to join him. Suvendu sought the governor's permission for bringing such a large team and, on getting his consent, all 50 of us went there. Obviously, this only proves that our MLAs are mostly united and want to remove all doubts about defection," Ghosh asserts. Whatever the truth, sources among the defectors-turned winning MLAseven those from the Mukul camp--say they are reluctant about jumping ship. The wave of desertions is most likely to happen among those turncoat leaders who have not secured MLA seats or any significant posts. Meanwhile, the TMC is also in no hurry to get them back. The party is testing the waters to see if allowing the deserters back in will create a backlash among those workers and supporters who stood by the party in its time of need. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has always said that the real strength of the Trinamool was its foot soldiers, the party workers and the masses. She will not go against the will of the people if they have reservations about some of the leaders. Already posters have come up against taking back Rajib Banerjee, Prabir Ghosal and MP Sunil Mondal in their constituencies. Even some of the cabinet ministers have raised objections about certain names. One of them is Sabyasachi Dutta; his bte noire in the party, Sujit Bose, has already alerted the top bosses about the dangers of getting back the gaddar (traitor). With the municipal and corporation elections scheduled once the Covid situation improves, Mamata will not ruffle feathers vis--vis public sentiment. Word is also out that deserters once taken back will be required to give an undertaking of some sorts. "There's also apprehension over how we will be treated. The warmth and respect Mukul Roy got will not apply to all of us. In fact, the party may only take back those leaders who it feels are useful," says one leader who is on the wait-list. Read India Today magazine by downloading the latest issue: https://www.indiatoday.com/emag