Former Trinamool Congress leader, Mukul Roy, joined the BJP on Friday in front of jubilant BJP leaders who couldn’t hide their excitement during the function.
Among those who were present to facilitate Roy’s inclusion in the BJP fold were the BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who’s never missed an opportunity to target his rival parties on corruption.
Speaking to reporters, Roy said, “I have joined the BJP today, I am very much confident. I believe the BJP is not a communal force but a secular force. In the near future, the BJP will come to power in West Bengal.”
Roy had formally quit Trinamool Congress last month after he resigned from the Rajya Sabha.
Mukul Roy fell out with the Bengal chief minister in January 2015 when he was grilled by CBI in the Saradha ponzi scam. Unlike other lawmakers of the party, who were arrested, he emerged smiling. Many in the party had begun to question what he had told the CBI.
There were resentment within the BJP as several Bengal leaders felt that his inclusion will considerably dent the saffron party’s claims on corruption.
Speaking at Janta Ka Conclave, the Trinamool’s parliamentary party leader, Derek O’Brien had said, “I don’t think it’s fair for me to comment on an ex colleague, who’s now very lonely.”
He was responding to Janta Ka Reporter’s editor-in-chief, Rifat Jawaid’s question whether he missed Mukul Roy.
Meanwhile, social media users have begun taunting the BJP for its double-standard on corruption. Many were quick to conclude that Roy joining the BJP after Narayan Rane- both accused of corruption- conclusively established the opposition charges that the saffron party was not serious on corruption.
The development has also come just ahead of assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, where Congress will pounce on the development to embarrass Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here are some of the reaction;
Mukul Roy first task will be to troll Didi & then Pidi. After that he will get mukti from ED ? https://t.co/IAYEXqGP3u
— Sid (@sidmtweets) November 3, 2017
Mitorn,Mukul Roy is Very Honest Person n all sting and scam allegations,CBI case against him was “BAHUT PURANI BAAT..Please delete old file
— Narendra nath mishra (@iamnarendranath) November 3, 2017
Mukul Roy joins BJP with help of it’s biggest ally, CBI. Now suddenly CBI won’t find any evidence against him in Saradha Scam
— Joy (@Joydas) November 3, 2017
Mukul Roy has joined BJP, from now onwards he will be nationalist, Patriotic and all the corruption charges against him will be closed.
— Anshuman Sail (@AnshumanSail) November 3, 2017
So after Narayan Rane, another illustrious leader joins BJP. Good way to fight corruption!! #MukulRoy
— Mahesh Langa (@LangaMahesh) November 3, 2017
Modi & Shah fight against corruption by letting in Rane & Roy in the @BJP4India the new automatic cleansing machine of Indian politics!
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) November 3, 2017