After five BJP MLAs skipped a party meeting called for North Bengal MLAs, speculations have heated up about their defections to the ruling TMC.
Twenty-nine BJP MLAs from North Bengal had to be part of the meeting. However, only 24 arrived. (Representational image)
The BJP held a meeting of its North Bengal MLAs in Siliguri on Wednesday but five MLAs were not present there. Two MLAs had informed the party about their absence before the meeting. The absence of the three has started speculation of defections to the Chief Minister Banerjee’s TMC.
Twenty-nine BJP MLAs from North Bengal had to be part of the meeting. However, only 24 arrived.
Gopal Chandra Saha from Malda, Manoj Oraon from Kumargram, Ashok Lahiri from Balurghat, Satyendra Nath Roy from Gangarampur and Joyel Murmu from Habibpur were absent.
“It does not mean that one who is not present here will go and join TMC. Balurghat MLA Ashok Lahiri is in Delhi and Gangarampur MLA is sick and being treated in Kolkata. This meet was scheduled long back and is related to development of North Bengal,” said BJP MLA Manoj Tigga.
As per the BJP, Ashok Lahiri and Satyendra Nath Roy had informed the party about their absence. However, the remaining three had not informed the party about their absence.
On the other hand, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Twelve of them (BJP MLAs) are in touch with us. Two have joined recently. Some people attend meetings and then tell us what is happening in those meetings from there.”
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