The governor of Meghalaya, Tathagata Roy, has expressed his desire to return to active politics in West Bengal. (File)
Calcutta:
With the West Bengal Assembly elections just months away, Meghalaya Governor and former BJP leader Tathagata Roy has expressed a desire to return to active politics in West Bengal once his term as governor ends.
The 74-year-old former West Bengal BJP chairman also disagreed with some of the “illogical” comments from the state leadership of the Saffron Party and said these “were not going well. with the people of the State ”.
Mr Roy, during a recent webinar, expressed his desire to return to active politics in West Bengal if the party leadership so desires.
“After my term as governor ends, I would like to return to active politics and serve West Bengal. After I return to my state, I will speak to the party (about this). It is up to them to accept or reject my proposal, ”said Mr. Roy.
Mr. Roy was State President of the BJP from 2002 to 2006 and a member of the National Executive of the BJP from 2002 to 2015.
He was appointed governor of Tripura in May 2015 and then succeeded governor of Meghalaya in August 2018.
His tenure as governor of Meghalaya ended in May, but it was extended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
When solicited for comments on some controversial statements by BJP leaders, Roy, without naming anyone, said he felt certain statements had done “more harm than good to the party.”
“In West Bengal, the North Indian culture of ‘Gai Hamari Mata Hain’ (the cow is our mother) will not work. Statements such as cow’s milk contains gold or cow urine can cure COVID-19 will not help BJP in West Bengal, ”he says.
Although BJP chairman Dilip Ghosh declined to comment on the matter, a section of the party leadership felt Mr Roy’s comments were intended for him.
“I don’t want to comment on this issue because I haven’t heard those statements,” Mr. Ghosh said.
The state is due to go to the Assembly elections in April or May of next year.
