FILE: Suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh (Press Trust of India photo)
Suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh, arrested in the Saradha scam and now in jail, on Wednesday, suggested that West Bengal's panchayat minister, Subrata Mukherjee, should replace Mamata Banerjee as chief minister till she was cleared in the chit fund case.
Speaking after a court appearance, Mr Ghosh said, "The Saradha investigation is different. Those who have allegations against them in the case, let them submit their resignations, face the investigations and then go back to government. In the interim, let the most able person for chief minister, Subrata Mukherjee run the government."
Though he did not take Mamata Banerjee's name, his hint was clear - that Ms Banerjee should resign, face the CBI probe in the Saradha case and, if exonerated, return to government. Some months ago, he had said, "The biggest beneficiary of Saradha is chief minister Mamata Banerjee."
Mr Ghosh's statement comes two days before Mamata Banerjee's right hand man, Mukul Roy, goes before the CBI for questioning in the Saradha scam. Mr Roy, who is Trinamool MP and all India general secretary of the party, returned to Kolkata on Wednesday morning from Delhi and said he would go to the CBI as scheduled on 30th January.