After remaining evasive for the past several months, sidelined Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy on Thursday dropped broad hints about the formation of new political party. “I am neither ruling out the possibility nor confirming it. My first priority is to serve the people,” Mr Roy said at the Bagdogra airport. He was on his way to Mahakal temple in Darjeeling. He was accompanied by suspended TMC MLA Shilbhadra Dutta. Mr Dutta was suspended because of his closeness to Mr Roy. Sources said Mr Roy was going to formally announce his party before Kali Puja/Diwali. “Mukul da has already applied for registration of his party with the EC of India and he is expecting a clearance in the first week of November. He will make the announcement on the evening of Diwali in Delhi.” a close aide said, adding that the symbol of the new party would be twin leaves instead of twin flowers of the Trinamul Congress. The speculation about Mr Roy’s own party was strengthened after the publication of a notification in a Hindi daily announcing the formation of the new outfit called Nationalist Trinamul Congress. Mr Roy’s close associate Amitava Majumdar was mentioned as its president.
The head office of the proposed party is North Bengal’s Dinhata. “Mukul da’s visit to Darjeeling and the plains of North Bengal at this juncture is significant. Remember chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting North Bengal shortly,” the aide added.
Mr Roy is likely to hold talks with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung, who is at present totally hostile to the chief minister. He is trying to mobilise all leaders and outfits which are critical of the state government and the ruling TMC.
