'ED raids, Sandeshkhali protests': Why TMC's Tapas Roy resigned before Lok Sabha elections 2024?

The resignation of three-time TMC MLA Tapas Roy is a major setback for the ruling party in West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Tapas Roy was TMC's sitting MLA from Baranagar and had wide influence in the region. He served as the deputy chief whip of the TMC in the West Bengal Assembly and was considered as a fierce spokesperson of the party. 

While announcing his resignation, Tapas Roy alleged corruption in the TMC and said he is facing various kinds of conflicts and was not attending party meetings for a long time. The West Bengal has not revealed his future course of action, but sources claim that he is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

Tapas Roy said he was not feeling respected in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the party didn't took his stand when the Enforcement Directorate raided his house in January 2024. He further added that everybody in the party is punished for crimes committed by someone else. 

"I resigned because I felt that I am not respected in this party, many times such situations arose where I felt this. The ED team reached my house on January 12th, it has been many days since the incident took place but no sympathy or cooperation has been received from the party..." Tapas Roy said while speaking with reporters.

"TMC is not for me... Wherever I see, there is corruption in this party, it is not right that someone else commits a crime and the rest get punished. I have been facing many kinds of conflicts and I did not go to the Assembly for a long time. I was not even attending party programs and today I have resigned. I have not decided anything yet about what I will do next..." the West Bengal leader added.