Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called BJP vice president Mukul Roy and inquired about the health of his wife, Krishna Roy, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in a Kolkata hospital.
The call from the Prime Minister to Mr. Roy, who is also the BJP MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, comes a day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee visited the hospital. It triggered a political speculation, where Mr. Roy, a former Railway Minister, is tilting towards the TMC. Neither Mr. Roy nor Mr. Banerjee has spoken anything about the visit.
Soon after the visit, the BJP leadership, including State president Dilip Ghosh, reached out to Mr. Roy. Mr. Ghosh also visited the hospital.
Son’s statement
A few days ago, Mr. Roy’s son and former MLA Subhrangshu Roy said on social media that instead of criticising a government elected by people, the BJP should reflect on introspection. Like his father, Mr. Subhrangshu Roy joined the BJP and contested the Assembly polls from Bijpur but lost.
The TMC’s softening of stand towards Mr. Mukul Roy became clear when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at a public meeting during election campaign, said, “Mukul [Roy] is not as bad as Suvendu [Adhikari]”.
In the past one month since the results of the Assembly polls have been announced, Mr. Mukul Roy has been conspicuous by his absence at BJP meetings. Mr. Roy, a founder- member of the TMC, joined the BJP in November 2017. He is said to have played a crucial role in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in which the BJP won 18 of the 42 seats.
A number of leaders from the TMC who joined the BJP have expressed their willingness to return to the ruling party. The list includes former MLAs like Sonali Guha, Amal Acharya, Sarala Murmu and Dibyendu Biswas.
