The Congress leaders have joined TMC in protest against the party high command’s decision to go with CPI(M) in the West Bengal Assembly election.
Veteran TMC leader Mukul Roy was present when the MLAs formally joined the party. Those who joined TMC include leader of opposition Sudip Roy Burman, Biswa Bandhu Sen, Ashis Sarkar, Dibachandra Rankhel, Dilip Sarkar and Pranjit Sinha.
Roy Burman had resigned from his position after the alliance was formed in West Bengal to combat TMC in the Assembly election. The MLAs, led by Roy Burman, on Tuesday met the speaker and submitted a letter informing him on joining the TMC.
As a majority of the 10 MLAs are joining TMC, anti-defection does not apply. Jiten Sarkar, who had joined Congress from CPI(M), has decided to go back to his old party. With most of the MLAs joining TMC, Congress’ existence in the north-east will be at stake. The party will have only three MLAs in the assembly.
Roy Burman said the alliance between Congress and CPI(M) could not be supported on moral grounds as he alleged— like in West Bengal — many party workers had been killed by CPI(M) cadre
in Tripura.
“It is an insult to the martyrs if we accept this alliance,” he said. He said the MLAs had decided to come to Kolkata and meet Mamata Banerjee on May 19, the day when the Assembly election results were out in West Bengal.
“But she had told us to wait for some more days,” said Roy Burman. It may be noted that TMC created history by winning 211 seats alone. Roy Burman said with Banerjee’s support they would be able to consolidate the party base in Tripura and launch a movement against the policies of the CPI(M) government. He said everyone was looking forward to Didi’s visit, as it would inject a new spirit among the political workers.