BJP to demand application of anti-defection law against Tanmoy Ghosh, Biswajit Das

West Bengal BJP has decided to demand the application of anti-defection law as the party legislators are leaving the party in a row and joining the ruling TMC. After Mukul Roy, two other BJP legislators from West Bengal namely Tanmoy Ghosh and Biswajit Das have shifted to Trinamool Congress. The state BJP leadership apprehends that more MLAs from the party will follow the same example in the coming days.

Kolkata: West Bengal BJP has decided to demand the application of anti-defection law as the party legislators are leaving the party in a row and joining the ruling TMC. After Mukul Roy, two other BJP legislators from West Bengal namely Tanmoy Ghosh and Biswajit Das have shifted to Trinamool Congress. The state BJP leadership apprehends that more MLAs from the party will follow the same example in the coming days.

But the saffron has decided to take the issue through to the end. Like in the case of Mukul Roy, the state BJP's legislative team will approach the West Bengal assembly speaker, Biman Bandopadhyay and demand action against defecting MLAs under the provisions of the anti-defection law. At the same time, the state BJP will take up the legal way against such defecting public representatives.

BJP sources said that on Wednesday they will approach the assembly speaker on this issue and submit a written memorandum demanding action against Ghosh and Das under the anti-defection law. At the same time, they will also file public interest litigation at the Calcutta High Court on this issue. The idea is to create pressure on the speaker on one hand and walk the legal way on the other hand.

Read: Another BJP legislator in West Bengal joins TMC

Confirming this development, BJP chief whip in West Bengal assembly, Manoj Tigga said that on Wednesday they will submit the written memorandum in this regard to the assembly speaker. "We will approach the Calcutta High Court too on this issue," he said. BJP sources further said that through this the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari wants to send a strong message to all the BJP legislators in West Bengal.

"If any MLA wants to quit BJP they can. But they will have to resign from the post of MLA in that case. Winning under the lotus symbol first and then shifting to Trinamool will not be tolerated and the party will take strong legal actions against any such MLA," a senior BJP leader said. Sources further said that Adhikari and the state BJP president, Dilip Ghosh will soon hold a meeting with all MLAs. A whip will be issued in this regard making the presence of all mandatory. Ghosh and Adhikari are expected to give some strong messages in that meeting.

Read: BJP MLA Tanmay Ghosh joins TMC, terms saffron party 'anti-Bengali'