'Narendra Modi Good Man, BJP Also Approached Me' : Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay Announces Plan To Join BJP After Resigning As HC Judge

Former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Tuesday (March 5) announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This development comes after he tendered his resignation in the morning today.

After his final day as a judge of the high court, Justice Gangopadhyay told reporters outside the court premises that he has sent his letter of resignation by post to President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Calcutta High Court Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam. In an interview with local news outlet ABP Ananda, Justice Gangopadhyay had on Sunday revealed his plans to step down.

During a press conference held today at his residence in Calcutta's Salt Lake, he announced his future plans to transition to the political realm. Earlier, he had refrained from confirming his political affiliations or intentions to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, he expressed openness to joining prominent parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, or the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Today, he announced that he would join the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 7, claiming that it is a national party that is committed to fighting the 'corrupt' Trinamool Congress party. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'good man'.

Responding to a query as to whether it was he who approached the BJP, he said, "Both sides approached. I also approached the BJP, the BJP also approached me". He added that for the past seven days, he has not performed any adjudication and that BJP and he got in touch with each other over the last 7 days only.

When asked about his opinion about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he replied, "A very good man. Very hardworking. Trying to do something for the country".

He explained that his religious beliefs did not align with the communist ideology of a state-less, religion-less society. While speaking about Congress, he criticised what he called the 'dynastic' politics of India's grand old party. 

Once again, he thanked the Trinamool Congress party for challenging him to 'enter the political field'. "I don't believe that Trinamool Congress is a political party. It is a jatra party. It is full of corruption. There are a few good people in the party, but they join often not knowing the true character of this party."

He also predicted the 'inevitable breakdown' of the ruling Trinamool Congress party. "Only a few arrests are needed, and the entire party will crumble soon. That party is not going to last," he exclaimed. 

Importantly, he also revealed that the Bharatiya Janata Party approached him with respect to his foray into politics, although declining to comment on any specifics about this meeting, including the names of the BJP leaders who met with him. He did not clarify whether he planned to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.