Saradha scam fallout: Trinamool Congress may go for early civic polls

KOLKATA: The TMC is contemplating ad plating advancing civic bodies elections in West Bengal even as the CBI prepares to put party's chief strategist Mukul Roy on the mat over the Saradha scam.

Sources in the Trinamool said this could be a fallout of Roy's admission that he had met Saradha CEO Sudipta Sen at Delo guest house in Kalimpong. Roy made this admission on Tuesday even before the CBI's questioning, which is expected soon. Trinamool insiders said that the fear of what he left unsaid has left party colleagues even more shaky.

Trinamool insiders said that to minimize the adverse impact of the Saradha taint, Trinamool chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee might hold the elections earlier than the March-end schedule. She has called an urgent meeting of the heads of the Trinamoolrun municipalities on Friday to discuss poll strategy. Roy is the party's organizational pointsman and it is to be seen whether he is assigned any responsibility for these elections. Sources said a sizeable section of Trinamool wants Roy out of the picture.

Roy called on Banerjee after his return from Delhi on Wednesday. Before the meeting he was all business-like and told reporters: “I will get in touch with CBI in due time after having consultations with my party . I will announce the date and time of my going to the CBI office.“

However, after his 30-minute meeting with the chief minister, the Trinamool leader appeared aloof and did not respond to the media.

Roy has written to the CBI, seeking a fortnight's time, saying he is among the chief party functionaries and his presence is needed for the upcoming bypolls in Bongaon and Krishnaganj. CBI has allowed him a week to make himself available for questioning.TMC sources said Roy's admission about his meeting with Sen made the TMC family susceptible to BJP attacks.