'Anyone who speaks of morality is deemed anti-party', says expelled TMC MLA Sandipan Saha

KOLKATA: Expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Sandipan Saha on Monday hit out at the party after he and fellow legislator Ritabrata Banerjee were removed from the party's primary membership over alleged anti-party activities.

Saha said, "In this party, anyone who speaks of morality will be deemed to be engaging in anti-party activity, simply because the party itself does not engage in any moral conduct... If, today, we have been suspended from the party for the sake of upholding morality, we are actually quite pleased. Performing moral acts is indeed the duty of every legislator, which is precisely what we have done."

When asked if he would join any other political party, he said, "No, there is nothing like that. Why would I think about that?"

The action came shortly after the two legislators filed complaints in connection with the alleged fake signature case in the West Bengal Assembly involving the endorsement of Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition.

“It has been brought to the notice of the All India Trinamool Congress through its competent authority that, despite having been elected as candidate nominated by the AITC, you have repeatedly failed to attend meetings convened by the authorised leadership of the party and have made yourself involved in anti-party activities,” a communication addressed to the two MLAs said.

“It has also been observed that you have engaged in activities and made statements that are prejudicial to the interests of AITC,” the communication signed by the party vice president, Chandrima Bhattacharya, added.

The letter further stated that after reviewing the matter, the “competent authority of the AITC has decided to expel you from the (primary) membership of the party with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, the West Bengal CID is investigating allegations that forged signatures of party legislators were used in a communication submitted to the Assembly Secretariat endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition.

(With Agency Inputs)