Despite Sovan’s objections, BJP still keen on Debasree

Kolkata: BJP is not giving up on Trinamool’s Raidighi MLA Debasree Roy despite former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee’s reservations about her. Leaders at the helm won’t allow anyone to “dictate terms” to the saffron party.
“We are very much interested in having Debasree in our party,” a Bengal BJP leader said on Friday even after Chatterjee had called her an “obsolete actor” and an “absentee MLA”.
Debasree has not been taking calls for over a week since she was denied induction into BJP along with Chatterjee and his friend Baisakhi Banerjee in Delhi on August 14.
According to BJP sources, the party is looking for a face to consolidate its increasing support in Raidighi assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas. They argue Debasree could be a choice, among others.
While BJP leaders Mukul Roy and state vice-president Jayprakash Majumdar denied having any truck with Debasree, a party leader said it was a tactical move to keep her waiting. “We didn’t want to lose Sovan-da by taking in Debasree, given his reservations on her joining along with them,” the leader said.
Now that Chatterjee has joined BJP, he has to place his opinion in the party forum. “Our seniors have to abide by the party line. No one is above party,” the party leader said.