BJP's Mukul Roy meets Bidhannagar Mayor Sabyasachi Dutta, fuels speculation about switch over

Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy Friday met Bidhannagar Mayor Sabyasachi Dutta at his residence, fuelling speculations that the senior Trinamool Congress leader might switch over to the BJP ahead of the national elections.

Both Roy and Dutta refuted the speculations and said it was just a courtesy visit.

Roy, a former TMC leader who had crossed over to the BJP in 2017 over differences with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, went to Dutta's residence late in the evening and held a meeting for more than two hours.

Dutta, also an MLA of Rajarhat Newtown, was known as a loyalist of Roy during his days in the TMC. However, he stayed back in Banerjee's party even as Roy became a rebel.

When contacted, Roy told PTI, "Sabyasachi is like my younger brother. I share personal bonding with his family. I just came to meet him to inquire about his well being."