Kolkata: Former Trinamool Congress MLA Manju Basu on Monday rubbished reports that she is contesting on a BJP ticket for the Noapara Assembly bypolls, scheduled to take place on 29 January this year.
Basu’s statement came hours after the West Bengal unit of BJP announced her name as its candidate for the West Bengal bypoll. “I am not contesting on behalf of BJP. I am with our party supremo Mamata Banerjee and I am with her in every decision,” she said.
Later in the day, BJP announced Sandeep Banerjee as their candidate from the Noapara Assembly seat.
TMC rebel and now BJP leader Mukul Roy claimed Basu’s name was decided after consulting her. He alleged that she changed her stand due to pressure from Mamata.
Basu's name was finalised by BJP's secretary of Central Election Committee on Sunday afternoon and a copy of draft letter was sent to party president Amit Shah.
Basu is a two-time Trinamool MLA and has been vocal about the way the party was functioning in her district. Speculations about her switchover to the BJP were rife after she met BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya and Mukul Roy.
Her decision not to contest on a BJP ticket seems to have left the party’s top leadership red-faced. The party’s national general secretary, Ramlal, has sought a report from state president Dilip Ghosh on why Basu suddenly backed out.
Arjun Singh, TMC MLA from the adjacent Bhatpara constituency, however, maintained that there is no pressure on Basu from the party.
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