'Where are the missing 25 MLAs?' Questions for Suvendu as Bengal BJP faces 'turncoat' trouble

Speculation is now rife about the possibility of reverse migration from the party

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R On Monday, leader of opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari led a delegation of several BJP MLAs to Raj Bhavan to seek Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. The latter tweeted that Adhikari called on him and submitted a representation over the state's current law and order situation. "Over 50 opposition MLAs expressed serious concern at lawlessness @MamataOfficial and partisan stance @WBPolice @KolkataPolice and sought intervention as the situation was sliding. Governor assured the MLAs and LOP @SuvenduWB that he will look into grievances of which he is aware," the governor wrote on the microblogging site.

In the aftermath of the meeting, TMC MLA Sudip Banerjee questioned where the rest of the BJP MLAs were. "Where are the missing 25 MLAs? He [Suvendu] needs to take care of his MLAs now." He was referring to reports that over 74 MLAs were expected to accompany Suvendu, but only 50 did, in a show of discontent within the BJP camp. As NDTV reported, 24 of the BJP's 74 MLAs failed to accompany Suvendu, with speculation now rife about the possibility of further reverse migration from the party, with MLAs like Rajib Banerjee, Dipendu Biswas and Subhrangshu Roy seemingly the next in line.

Adhikari had, on Monday, threatened to approach the speaker of the assembly, seeking application of the anti-defection law against MLA Mukul Roy if he does not resign in a day. Roy had last week rejoined the TMC, of which he was once the second-in-command after Mamata Banerjee, following his three-and-a-half year-long stint in the BJP. He had contested the assembly polls on a BJP ticket and bagged the Krishnanagar Uttar seat. Without naming Roy, Adhikari said, "An MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar has changed party, and we hope he will resign from the membership of the assembly. If he does not resign by tomorrow, we will write to the Speaker on Wednesday seeking application of the anti-defection law."

According to sources in the saffron camp, Roy, who was the national vice president of the BJP, was unhappy with the role and responsibility he was given during the elections. Adhikari said BJP national general secretary Bhupender Yadav and Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad are "looking into the matter" and legal steps will be taken after seeking their opinion. "The BJP legislature party has decided to take recourse to the law if the matter is not settled," the legislator told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.