Kolkata, Mar 6 (UNI) Five-time MLA Tapas Roy, who quit the ruling TMC and his assembly seat on Monday, joined the BJP on Wednesday in the presence of West Bengal party president Sukanta Majundar and opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari.
BJP's National observer for West Bengal Mangal Pandey was also present on the occasion.
Roy, who had been winning the Baranagar assembly seat since 2011, severed all links with the TMC after being allegedly ignored by the top leadership of the ruling party.
He had been with the TMC since its inception.
Tapas was with the Congress before joining the TMC and had elected twice as MLA on grand old party ticket.
Roy told reporters that 'he would be loyal to the BJP until his retirement from politics'.
A TMC leader, reacting to the joining of Roy in the BJP, said it was unfortunate and heart rending.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee had summoned Tapas Roy to his chamber today and sought some clarification on his resignation letter, assembly sources said.
Roy's joining in the saffron party happened a day after Calcutta High Court sitting judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay quit his judicial service and is expected to join the BJP.
UNI PC CS1901