‘Will join BJP…party will decide if I will contest (Lok Sabha polls) or not’: Former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay

Hours after submitting his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, copies of which were sent to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, former Justice Gangopadhyay held a press meet at his Salt Lake residence.

“I have been forced to take this step due to taunts by the ruling party. Their taunts and statements inspired me to take this step. The ruling party insulted me many times. Their spokespersons attacked me with unparliamentary words. I think they have a problem with their education,” he said.

Asked when the BJP approached him and how long he took to take a call on joining politics, he said, “I did not take much time. About seven days ago, I had a word with the BJP. I did not take much time to think.”

Attacking TMC further, he said, “TMC will not last until 2026. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool will be in the same position as CPM in 2009…All it takes is a few arrests and the party will break,” the former judge said.

Justice Gangopadhyay at his residence in Kolkata on Tuesday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Senior advocate and Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee had recently pleaded before the Calcutta High Court bench that “all political orders” passed by Justice Gangopadhyay in the School Service Commission cases should be struck down. Reacting to this, former Justice Gangopadhyay said, “He has some problem…he is known for his character.”

“Trinamool is not a political party but Trinamool Yatra Party…I think Trinamool is a group of miscreants. I do not consider Trinamool a political party,” he added.

When asked about the 2016 Narada sting operations, where several TMC leaders including Suvendu Adhikari, who is now with the BJP, were seen taking cash on camera in purported videos, Gangopadhyay defended Adhikari. “Suvendu is a victim of conspiracy. Narada was a conspiracy where a man was planted…even TMC leaders were victims,” he said.

The former Calcutta High Court judge had said on Sunday that he was quitting the judiciary and had hinted he would enter politics. “I have been challenged to come and fight on the field several times by the ruling party’s leaders, so I thought to fulfil their wishes,” Justice Gangopadhyay had said during an interview with a Bengali news channel on Sunday.

The former judge was embroiled in several controversies for ignoring orders of larger benches, giving an interview to a television channel, issuing directions to the Supreme Court registry etc and his courtroom had witnessed several dramatic moments – from scuffles and boycotts to charges being traded against lawyers and senior colleagues.