Even as Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee expressed apprehension about her senior party leaders crumbling under the glare of the CBI probe in the Saradha scam, she tried to placate the leaders who have struck a discordant note with the party.
Party general secretary Mukul Roy, MPs Debobrata Bandyopadhyay, Sugata Bose and Anupam Hazra, Subhendu Adhikari whose recent statements had caused embarrassment to the party, were assigned the key role of countering the Opposition’s campaign against the TMC .
During the meeting, which lasted for over an hour, Ms Banerjee referred to the pressure being mounted by the CBI on party leaders and advised them not to feel threatened. Later in the day, senior Trinamool leaders met Mr Roy at his Nizam Palace office in the city. Among those present was Mr Adhikari.
Before attending the meeting, Mr Roy told journalists: “The party will express its stand at the meeting. I will attend the meeting and voice my opinion.”
The development is crucial as it comes a day after the CBI questioned Mr Roy.
Appearing outside the CBI office, Mr Roy had said that he wants the truth to come out and that justice should not be denied to the poor affected by the scam.
The remarks led to speculation of Mr Roy distancing himself from the party.
TMC to take on Modi govt in Parliament
Meanwhile, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien told reporters that in the meeting it was decided that his party will take on the BJP-led government at the Centre in the upcoming Budget session in Parliament for its failure to fulfil its pre-poll promise on bringing black money stashed away aboard.
He also said that the meeting was held to chalk out the party’s strategy in the next Budget session of Parliament and the upcoming by-polls in Bengal.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, senior TMC leader and Minister Subrata Mukherjee said, “It was unanimously decided that we accept the political challenge posed by the BJP especially in Bengal.”
