Gautam Roy, "Yet to decide about 2019 elections, will consider if offer made by Congress or any other party"

By barakbulletin On August 31, 2018 - 9:33 pm

To read this story in Bengali click here

You either burn his effigy or wear him a garland, such is the personality, name, Gautam Roy. The tall political figure wrapped up with history and controversy. The broad roads of Hailakandi or the toilets in Silchar Medical College considers him a statesman and on the same breath in the same second, you will hear people accusing him of mishandling of funds, partially in handing over contracts and what not. He made headlines in both front and back pages with politics and BCCI, at times he even attracted page 3 journalists with his dance moves, but since last one year he has been missing, no headline, no speech, no cutting ribbons. Did he hang is boot and decide to retire or was it the silence before the storm, many wondered. Seems like he is waiting for the toss and then the return match starts.

With his frequent visit to Dholai, meetings with BJP’s North East head Ram Madhav, handshakes with Himanta Biswa Sarma and most recently by being present in former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ashes immersion ceremony, he has got himself back making headlines. Anonymous sources tell us Himanta Biswa Sarma wants him to contest 2019 elections from Silchar, the seat BJP’s veteran politician Kabindra Purkayastha failed to win in 2014. The rumours doing rounds suggest this weekend he will officially resign from Congress and join BJP… To put an end to all the speculations Barakbulletin.com reached out to the man himself and here is what he had to say:

Edited Excerpts:

You are quitting Congress and joining BJP and the announcement is due this Sunday how true is this?

I have no clue about what you are saying, there is no such programme planned, at least I don’t know of any yet. So, at this stage, I am not willing to comment on that speculation

Did BJP leadership speak to you about any such plan?

No! Not at all

Did you voluntarily express any willingness to join BJP, did you reach out to the leadership?

No nothing like that. See, I am attached yet detached, I speak to many people, share a cordial relationship with everybody. When it comes to politics, I have already achieved everything I wanted to. There is nothing new that I long for. The thing is I love to involve myself in social work, I love working for the common people and for that I travel to Silchar, Karimganj and all. I want to help and serve common people and for that will do whatever needed.

If BJP asks you to run from Silchar in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will you accept the invitation and contest?

I am still in Congress, if I want to contest from Silchar and want a ticket I will ask Congress for one. But, I have not asked for a ticket to contest from Silchar yet. Having said so, if any political party, be it Congress or any other, offer me a ticket, I will think as it comes.

Okay, so if BJP high command offers you a ticket to contest in 2019 elections from Silchar you will consider it?

Yes, I will, of course, think about it.

Are in touch with Himanta Biswa Sarma, did he already make you an offer to contest from Silchar?

I am not comfortable talking about it…

Please Note: The former minister spoke to out correspondent in Bengali and this is a translation on the basis of our interpretation and not his exact words