8 BJP MLAs Resign From Head Of Assembly Committees Post, Oppose Mukul Roy's Appointment

BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari met Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and demanded the removal of Mukul Roy from the post of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.

A delegation of opposition MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari meet WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhawan Kolkata | Picture Courtesy: @jdhankhar1

Kolkata: 8 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs on Tuesday resigned as heads of various committees of the Assembly in protest against the appointment of MLA Mukul Roy as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari objected to Roy's promotion, arguing that the MLA, who switched over to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) last month after winning the election on a BJP ticket, cannot be considered as a BJP MLA.

As per the convention, the MLA of the main opposition party is made the PAC President and Mukul Roy has not quit as a BJP MLA in the House despite changing the party.

Manoj Tigga, one of the BJP MLAs after resigning from a standing committee said, "Roy's appointment is a naked display of undemocratic and partisan politics. In protest, we have decided to resign. 

MLAs, including Mihir Goswami, Bhishma Prasad Sharma, and Tigga, led by Adhikari later went to the Raj Bhawan to apprise Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar about the "gross violation of democratic norms by the ruling party".

A Delegation of opposition MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition #WBLA Shri @SuvenduWB called on WB Governor Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhawan Kolkata today at 4 PM.

Leader of Opposition submitted a representation as regards irregularities relatable to PAC Chairman #WBLA. pic.twitter.com/rY7jZeEYK0

— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) July 13, 2021

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress deputy chief whip in the House Tapas Roy said it was the BJP's decision and he would not like to comment on it. 

"Appointments to any assembly committee should be left to the discretion of the Speaker, who followed the rule in this matter," he said.

It has to be kept in mind that BJP was conspiring to topple democratically elected governments across the country to capture power. They have no right to speak on democratic values.

Significantly, on July 9, BJP MLAs staged a walkout in the assembly after Roy was made the head of the PAC.