Mamata bars other TMC leaders from interacting with Mukul Roy

Kolkata: Before leaving for Bangladesh, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee barred all Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders from interacting with her erstwhile right-hand man Mukul Roy.

In a closed-door meeting with legislators, Banerjee also warned the party officials of being careful of people trying to sabotage the party for personal gains. Banerjee has also accused Roy’s son Subhranshu, who is a state legislator, of trying to sabotage the party’s win in the recent by-polls.

“Many people are staying within the party and are performing for others, which will not be tolerated. If someone is willing to leave, he is free to,” Banerjee had said.

“The message was clear that Roy is no more important to her. On the contrary she [Banerjee] is worried that he may try to split the party and join the BJP,” said a TMC legislator, on anonymity. Banerjee also told her party leaders that from now on she will make all efforts to avoid Roy.

In a press statement, Derek O’ Brien said, “Mukul Roy’s designation remains unchanged, but the roles have been changed. From now on it would be wrong to assume that he is next to the chairperson. The party has been restructured and it is beyond any individual.”

O’Brien also said that Roy will not represent the party at the all-party meeting convened by the Lok Sabha speaker on Sunday. The two chief whips in the two Houses — Kalyan Banerjee in the Lok Sabha and O’Brien in the Rajya Sabha — will attend the meeting.

This is the first-ever official statement, which clarified the ongoing speculation that Roy does not enjoy Banerjee’s confidence any more.

Accordingly, on Friday, all personal belongings of Banerjee that were in Roy’s official flat in Delhi’s South Avenue have been moved to her nephew Avisheek Banerjee’s apartment.

“Banerjee had left her official residence as a parliamentarian in 2011 after becoming chief minister. Whenever she visited Delhi, she used to stay at Roy’s official bungalow. From now on she will stay at Avisheek’s official residence,” said a TMC insider.

“The separation is complete and almost official as TMC is now waiting for Roy to respond. It would be good if he resign[s] voluntarily from all party position[s] and from the Rajya Sabha [upper house of parliament], a seat he had won on a TMC ticket,” said another TMC leader.

However, Roy has not clarified his stand and is probably waiting for a nod from the BJP leaders on his induction. “No one can give anybody powers. Every individual has to earn it,” was his statement to a Bengali daily in response to the ongoing events.