Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly Secretariat has begun examining legal options to challenge the recent Calcutta High Court order that struck down Mukul Roy’s membership in the House.
Secretariat sources said the Speaker’s office has initiated consultations with legal experts on the next course of action.
Recently, Advocate General Kishor Datta visited the Assembly and met Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay. Although neither disclosed what was discussed, the meeting triggered speculation that the Secretariat may appeal against the High Court’s ruling. Bandopadhyay maintained that he is still assessing what steps could be taken. A division bench of the High Court cancelled Roy’s membership and also quashed the Speaker’s earlier decision that had refused to remove him from the House. The Speaker had previously rejected the BJP’s plea to cancel Roy’s membership, reasoning that since Roy had been a BJP candidate during the 2021 Assembly election, his membership could not be terminated.
Roy had joined the BJP from TMC ahead of the 2021 polls and won the Krishnanagar (Uttar) seat on a BJP ticket. Shortly after the TMC returned to power for a third consecutive term, he rejoined the ruling party but continued to remain an MLA elected on the BJP symbol. He did not resign after switching sides, which prompted the BJP to challenge his continuation as a legislator. Following the Speaker’s refusal to act on its request, the BJP moved the High Court seeking cancellation of his membership. After a prolonged hearing, the court set aside Speaker’s order and declared Roy’s seat vacant.