Mukul Roy did not attend the hearing on the allegation of defection. TMC Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh wrote a letter to Speaker Biman Banerjee stating the reason for his non-attendance at the hearing. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari called the letter a “big tool” in support of their allegations. The speaker had a hearing on Mukul’s anti-defection case on Thursday. Kalyani BJP MLA Ambika Roy and her lawyers, including the Opposition Leader, reached the Speaker’s house at around 1 pm. The hearing lasted for half an hour. Suvendu can know about Mukul’s position during the hearing. In Mukul’s absence, the speaker fixed 12 November for the next hearing.
As per a letter from the TMC Chief Whip addressed to the Speaker, Mukul could not attend the hearing due to illness. He is currently undergoing treatment. Thus, his presence in the meeting on 23 September was not possible. The BJP sees the letter of the TMC chief whip on behalf of BJP MLA Mukul from Krishnanagar North as a big tool in their application for dismissal of the MLA post. Suvendu said, “Mukulbabu has given proof that he has become a member of the TMC. Instead of his reply, Nirmal, the Chief Whip of the ruling party, sent a letter to the speaker. He said Mukul was not coming to the hearing due to illness.”
“First of all, Nirmal gave this letter,” he said. So it is clear that Mukul is now a member of the TMC. As a result, anti-secession laws need to be implemented now. Second, even if Mukul could not come himself, he could clarify his political position with a letter. Thirdly, the letter from the TMC Chief Whip did not provide any information about Mukul’s health. BJP will not wait too long for the speaker’s decision, he said. The court ruled in an anti-defection case in the Manipur assembly that the speaker of the assembly concerned would have to take a decision within three months. BJP wants to wait for a certain period for every defecting MLA. If the speaker does not take a decision within the stipulated time, Gerua Shibir will approach the court. Suvendu said they could approach the court next Monday over Mukul’s resignation.
