BJP leader Tathagata Roy creates fresh controversy with jibe against actors fielded by BJP
Kolkata, May 4: Veteran BJP leader Tathagata Roy, known for his controversial comments, triggered fresh row Tuesday for his tweet that some actor-turned-BJP candidates who never had anything to do with politics were fielded by the party only to concede electoral defeat in the West Bengal assembly poll.
He called three new political entrants from the tinsel world in BJP who were defeated by big margins as "politically stupid".
Roy tweeted that a BJP ticket to contest an election involves lots of expense to run the poll campaign.
"Film and TV actors who never had anything to do with politics, let alone BJP, were handed tickets by BJPs election management team. Parno Mitra (Baranagar), Srabanti Chatterjee (Behala West), Payel Sarkar (Behala East). These women were so politically stupid that they had gone on a steamer trip with TMCs playboy-politician Madan Mitra less than a month before elections and shot selfies with him. All were roundly defeated," he wrote.
Roy, however, soon tweeted a correction on the thread saying he meant Tanusree Chakraborty and not Parno Mitra as having shot selfies with Madan Mitra and "regretted the error".
Tanusree had contested from Shyampur in Howrah district on a BJP ticket and had been defeated.
Tagging the BJP top brass in the tweet, he asked "What great qualities were these women possessed of? Kailash Vijayvargiya, Dilip Ghosh & Co must answer."
He said contesting the polls involves large expenses.
"It must not be forgotten that a BJP electoral ticket carries with it substantial money for running the election. Or for other purposes!"
Kanchan Mallick, a screen actor who fought on a TMC ticket and won the Uttarpara seat, reacted strongly to Roy's jibe at his industry colleagues. "It is insulting for them even though they belong to my rival party," he said.
"He (Roy) cannot use such words just because they lost the battle and belonged to industry," Mallick told reporters.
Interestingly Roy did not comment on actor Hiron Chatterjee, who switched over from TMC and was nominated by BJP from Kharagpur, contested for the first time and won.
A BJP leader said Roy's comment was his own and the party does not endorse such views.
None of the actors were available for comment.
Recently Roy had entered into a verbal duel in the social media with actor-turned-Trinamool Congress leader Saayoni Ghosh over her views on certain matters and had filed a police complaint against her for a tweet posted years ago on the ground that it hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.
Saayoni was fielded by Trinamool Congress from Asansol South and lost to Agnimitra Paul of BJP.
Film and TV actors who never had anything to do with politics,let alone BJP,were handed tickets by BJP’s election management team. Parno Mitra (Baranagar),Srabanti Chatterjee (Behala West),Payel Sarkar (Behala East). These women were so politically stupid that they had gone on
— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) May 4, 2021
It must not be forgotten that a BJP electoral ticket carries with it substantial money for running the election. Or for other purposes!
— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) May 4, 2021
Correction: Tanusree Chakraborty,NOT Parno Mitra,shot selfies with Madan Mitra. The error is regretted.
— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) May 4, 2021
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
