Mukul Roy is finally back home! After three-and-a-half years, all speculations came to an end with Mukul Roy returning to Trinamool Congress. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exclaimed, “Ghorer chhele ghore phirlo (Mukul has returned home).” He was never a traitor like the others, she stressed.
Mukul told reporters, “I feel great at seeing my old colleagues, after leaving the BJP. I can’t be in the BJP. Nobody will remain in the BJP.” He went on to describe the Chief Minister as “the only leader of Bengal and India”.
But why did he leave BJP? Mukul could not give a straight answer. Instead, Mamata said that he returned to his own house. She added that there was pressure from agencies on him.
Mukul returned to the TMC with his son Shubhranshu. On behalf of the party, Mamata did not disclose the post to be given to the former general secretary. Mukul›s earlier post is now with Abhishek Banerjee. Interestingly, Mukul was welcomed by Abhishek on Friday.
Mamata said, “Even though Mukul changed his party, he did not say a single bad thing in the name of our party during the polls.” With this, the Bengal CM wanted to differentiate Mukul with the likes of Suvendu Adhikari.
When asked if the Sarada-Narada issue will again come to haunt Mukul, Mamata said, “Mukul has joined TMC, this is final. We do not do what the BJP does. Mukul came back of his own free will. The BJP is not a party of ordinary people, it is a party of zamindars, a party of agencies. The agencies are the spokespersons of the BJP.”
Mamata further said that many more people will come to the TMC. However, she did not reveal the names. When a journalist asked a question about Suvendu, Mamata abruptly ended the press meet.
In 2019, PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah gave the credit of the BJP’s good performance in the Lok Sabha elections to Mukul. But after Suvendu’s entry, he thought he wasn’t given much importance. He felt isolated and ignored. Though he fought the Assembly polls from the Krishnanagar North constituency and won that seat too, he remained silent thereafter.
After that, Mamata made a suggestive comment on 30 March during the election campaigning. She was heard saying, “Mukul is not as bad as Suvendu.” From then on, the speculations began.
Then on 8 May, after taking oath as MLA, Mukul spoke privately with Subrata Bakshi for about 45 minutes. He made another shocking remark, “Sometimes you have to be quiet. I will say it as I say it.” The next day, Mukul tweeted that he was still in the BJP. BJP national president J.P. Nadda retweeted his tweet.
But things became clearer last week when Abhishek went to the hospital where Mukul›s wife was admitted. The very next day, Prime Minister Modi reportedly spoke to Mukul on the phone to ask about his wife›s health, reflecting the BJP’s nervousness.
Then on Thursday, Saugata Roy made another significant comment. He said that Mukul had never resorted to personal attacks on Mamata.
The homecoming of its leaders, including those who switched sides just before the Assembly elections, is part of the TMC›s plan of action for 2024. Thus, Mukul›s return was so important.