BJP's Suvendu Adhikari demands disqualification of Mukul Roy as MLA

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has filed a petition before the West Bengal Legislative Assembly speaker, demanding disqualification of MLA Mukul Roy who recently switched over from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Suvendu also met West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and stated the need for the establishment of an anti-defection law for MLAs who are jumping ship after the results.

Mukul Roy, who had contested the West Bengal Assembly polls 2021 and won the Krishnagar North assembly seat on a BJP ticket, rejoined his former party TMC in the presence of Mamata Banerjee last week. He had joined the BJP after quitting Mamata Banerjee's party in 2017.

"We have readied all the documents to back our demand for the disqualification of Mukul Roy from the assembly, who had won on the BJP's lotus symbol, news agency PTI quoted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari as saying on Thursday.

Another BJP leader, Swapan Dasgupta, also demanded Mukul Roy's disqualification. He tweeted: "Last week Mukul Roy joined AITC in the presence of Mamata Banerjee. There was no ambiguity over his defection. Politics will take its course, but the law demands he resign as MLA elected on BJP symbol. Let him follow his own course of resigning from Rajya Sabha in 2017 before joining BJP."

Last week Mukul Roy joined AITC in presence of @MamataOfficial. There was no ambiguity over his defection. Politics will take its course, but law demands he resign as MLA elected on BJP symbol. Let him follow his own course of resigning from Rajya Sabha in 2017 before joining BJP — Swapan Dasgupta (@swapan55) June 18, 2021

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BJP's Amit Malviya also said, "After joining the TMC in the presence of Mamata Banerjee, Mukul Roy should have on his own resigned from his membership of the Bengal Assembly, a seat [Krishnanagar Uttar] he won on a BJP ticket. Now, Suvendu Adhikari, BJP's LoP in WB has moved the Speaker for his disqualification..."

After joining TMC in the presence of Mamata Banerjee, Mukul Roy should have on his own resigned from his membership of the Bengal Assembly, a seat (Krishnanagar Uttar) he won on BJP ticket.

Now, Suvendu Adhikari, BJP’s LoP in WB has moved the Speaker for his disqualification — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 18, 2021

Responding to the demand of the BJP leaders, TMC state unit general secretary Kunal Ghosh on Thursday said that the law will take its course but Suvendu Adhikari has no right to speak on the issue.

"Suvendu must look at the mirror before raising such demands. Has he ever asked his father Sisir Adhikari to quit as the MP of Kanthi, which he had won on a TMC ticket?" Kunal Ghosh was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from PTI)