Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken an apparent dig at former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Tapas Roy over his joining in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.

In a public address on Thursday, Mamata, who took no name, hinted that the scare of ED raids prompted Roy, a veteran politician who joined BJP on Wednesday, to switch sides.

The Chief Minister said, "Leaders, who are called corrupt, suddenly become corruption free once they join BJP. The BJP is a washing machine.

"Some people are so scared that they are joining the BJP. They are switching sides just by an ED raid."

I will work towards establishing a peaceful Bengal, says Tapas Roy

Roy joined the BJP in presence of the party's state chief Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

Speaking to the reporters at BJP headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata, Roy said, "Now I am in the family of Modi-ji. I will fulfill all my duties and responsibilities as long as I am in politics as a member of this family. I am indebted to the state and central leadership of BJP for welcoming me in the party."

Photo courtesy: Bengal BJP

Roy, who quit TMC on March 4, said he joined the saffron camp with a pledge to establish peace in the state where the incumbent is facing serious political challenges post the Sandeshkhali episode, where several local women accused erstwhile ruling party strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, who is now under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody, of land grabbing and sexual abuse.

"There is a misrule going on in the state. The state government is run by people like Sheikh Shahjahan, Uttar Sardar, Shibu Hazra. It talks of the Constitution, law and order but doesn't follow court orders. I have joined BJP with a pledge to work towards establishing a peaceful Bengal," Roy said.

Roy, who was a Congress leader until he switched to TMC, on Monday resigned as the MLA before dumping the ruling party.

The senior politician said he was hurt that his party chief Mamata Banerjee did not back him when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided his place in connection with the civic body recruitment case on January 12.

"I am hurt. Mamata Banerjee could say Sheikh Shahjahan was targeted by ED but couldn't take my name in the assembly," said Roy, who has accused TMC Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay of having a role behind the ED raid.