Mamata critic, another Congress councillor join Trinamool

In a setback to the Congress, two of its Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillors including prominent leader Mala Roy - a known critic of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - joined the state's ruling Trinamool Congress on Saturday.

Roy, who unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls from South Kolkata constituency last year, met Trinamool supremo Banerjee before her formal induction.

"I have quit the Congress. I want to work for the people and I was not getting the chance. I'm happy to return to my old party," Roy said after her meeting with Banerjee.

The other Congress councillor who crossed over to the Trinamool was Arun Das.

Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee, flanked by the two new joinees, announced their formal induction in the party and said their experience with the city civic body will help the ruling party.

Roy, a founder member of the Trinamool, was a close associate of Mamata Banerjee once. However, she quit in 2005 and joined the Congress to become a fierce critic of Banerjee.

However, speaking to media persons during the day, Roy said she was one of those who formed the Trinamool after "lot of struggle".

This time, Roy has switched her allegiance with the polls to the civic body just a month away.

"Roy needs no introduction. She is a councillor for close to two decades. Das has served as a councillor for 30 years," said Chatterjee.

Reacting to the twin desertions, state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the timing of their decision smacked of "sheer opportunism".

"They must have thought their interests will be better served if they join the party in power," he said.