After Resigning From Calcutta High Court, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay Set To Join BJP; Accepts TMC's Challenge Of Electoral Politics

After resigning from Calcutta High Court earlier today (5 March), Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay announced his plan to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Maybe on 7th (March) in the afternoon. There is a tentative program, when I will join BJP," Gangopadhyay told media.

His resignation sent to President Droupadi Murmu came into immediate effect under Article 217 (1) (a) of the Constitution.

There are speculations that Gangopadhyay might contest the Lok Sabha elections from Tamluk constituency, a TMC bastion since 2009.

Currently, West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's brother Dibyendu Adhikari is the MP from Tamluk.

His another brother Soumendu Adhikari was fielded as BJP candidate from Kanthi in East Midnapore, a seat held by their father Sisir Adhikari since 2009.

Earlier in an interview, Gangopadhyay had disclosed his plans of quitting the judiciary and joining politics. However, the party he would be joining was left undisclosed.

This comes weeks after he hit headlines for accusing a fellow judge of favouring Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Abhishek Banerjee.

Gangopadhya shared that he was being challenged by the ruling TMC to fight on the electoral field and hence he "thought why not."

Targeting TMC, he said, "Those who emerged as rulers did not seem to be able to benefit the kingdom," and said it is unacceptable for him as a Bengali.

He expressed his desire to directly reach people. The Congress and the BJP, both had welcomes him into the politics, while the TMC criticised him.