A flurry of political activity followed the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Wednesday which saw rallies and counter-rallies, allegations and counter-allegations flying, and parties making a beeline for the Raj Bhavan to meet West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.
The day began with BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargeye addressing presspersons at the party headquarters which had, on Tuesday, become the flash-point of violence after the arrest.
While Mr. Vijayvargeye said that the BJP was no way responsible for the arrest, he also cautioned the ruling party in the State. “If we tread on the same path like Trinamool Congress, can their MPs enter Delhi and take out rallies in other States,” he asked.
Asked whether they would ask the Governor to invoke Article 356, he replied, “It would be premature now. But if things persist then we can seek that also.”
A few hours later, almost all the key Ministers of Mamata Banerjee’s government went to meet Governor. This was followed by a visit by State BJP president Dilip Ghosh to the Raj Bhavan. He gave the Governor details of party offices being attacked and the number of their supporters being attacked. "It was unthinkable. We did not expect this. Our party office was attacked at different places including Hooghly and Durgapur. Babul Supriyo's house was attacked. We are concerned. It should stop", he said. A delegation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by the party MLA Sujan Chakraborty, also met the Governor. Mr Chakraborty raised the expression of bonhomie between the “TMC and BJP”. “ There are many more who need to be arrested and the money of the people need to be returned”. When told that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had mentioned his name in connection with Rose Valley, Mr. Chakraborty said he was ready for questioning.
Wife leads protest
Among the many rallies organised by the Trinamool Congress, one was led by Nayna Bandyopadhyay, MLA and wife of the arrested MP. The Trinamool leadership has said that protests will continue in every block and subdivision of the state in the coming days.
