BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty during a press conference at BJP Hastings party office in Kolkata. (Express photo by Partha Paul)BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty on Saturday reiterated that about 21 TMC MLAs are in direct contact with him.
Addressing a press conference at a BJP office in Hastings area, Chakraborty said the number of TMC MLAs in touch with him had not come down since he first made such a claim.
“I stand by what I had said earlier. About 21 TMC MLAs are still in touch with me. I said this earlier, and I am saying this now. Just wait for the right time,” said Chakraborty, who had on July 27 claimed that about 38 TMC MLAs were in touch with the BJP, with 21 being in direct contact with him. “I know there are objections in the party (not to welcome TMC leaders into the party). Many leaders have said they will not welcome rotten potatoes into the party. I am not that fool and will not repeat the same mistake. This time, we will carry out a proper check before taking leaders,” added Chakraborty.
The BJP leader, who is in the city for Durga Puja, is scheduled to inaugurate several pandals in Kolkata and across the state.
Chakraborty criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent comments that the BJP was using the CBI and the ED to target Opposition parties while maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not behind such moves.
Slamming the Bollywood superstar, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “He is a good actor. He is also a traitor and an opportunist political leader. Being a good actor, he knows how to read a script and deliver proper dialogues. At a time when the BJP is struggling with infighting, Chakraborty has come here to give the party some consolation. He is speaking from a script prepared for him. His claims are far away from reality. His statements have no value.”