“I approached the BJP, and the BJP approached me”: Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins the Bharatiya Janata Party

Former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Tuesday informed that he will be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 7, hours after he tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, with copies sent to CJI DY Chandrachud and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court TS Sivagnanam.

“I will join BJP on March 7. All other decisions pertaining to my political future will be decided by the party high command. The ruling Trinamool Congress government has humiliated me on many occasions, passed harsh comments, and even challenged me to join the battle on the field, therefore here I am joining the battle field to actively fight against TMC’s corrupt politics,” said Justice Gangopadhyay while addressing a battery of media outside his residence. “At this very given juncture, I feel that the BJP is the only party that openly fights against Trinamool Congress’s corrupt politics, therefore, I think joining them will only strengthen my cause,” he added.

Justice Gangopadhyay who has been a harsh critique of Trinamool Congress, lashed out at the party and stated that it is only a matter of time before the party falls apart. “Many senior leaders of Trinamool Congress are leaving the party. The party has weakened and continues to weaken by the day. It is only a matter of time before TMC falls apart in the state of Bengal,” said the former Calcutta High Court Judge, while adding that alleged corrupt practices within the party has corrode its foundational strength.

“I took the past 7 days to decide the course of my future, and I decided to join the BJP. I was on leave so that I do not get occupied by work commitments. It was a both way deal, I approached the BJP and so did the BJP approach me it was a both way deal,” said Abhijit Bandhyopadhyay While speaking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Calcutta High Court judge noted that the PM is a “very good” and “hard working man” who is “trying to do something for the country.” “I will wholeheartedly abide by why BJP stands for, BJP stands for eliminating corruption, and I too will work towards mitigating corruption out of the system,” he added.

The former Calcutta High Court judge had conveyed his intent to tender his resignation on Sunday, while hinting at making a foray into politics. He submitted his resignation on Tuesday, hours before he announced that he would be joining the BJP. Justice Gangopadhyay, a high court judge since 2018 is known for controversial rulings. He faced backlash for giving a TV interview about the alleged 'school jobs for cash scam,' he discussing the purported involvement of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The Supreme Court had then warned against judges speaking to the media. He also initiated investigations by the CBI and ED into alleged irregularities in the recruitment processes of teaching and non-teaching staff in government schools of Bengal.