The Trinamul Congress on Monday questioned the timing of the party’s Baranagar MLA Tapas Roy’s decision to quit the party and step down as a legislator amid speculation that he would contest the forthcoming elections as a BJP nominee.

A statement released by the party sought to ask why Roy decided to quit right after the Enforcement Directorate had raided his house. “You might be under some sort of pressure or compulsion else you wouldn’t have done this,” the party told Roy via a statement.

Two emissaries of Trinamul all-India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee—state minister Bratya Basu and Kunal Ghosh—had reached out to Roy but could not dissuade him.

“There is a decorum and a proper platform- he could have highlighted things there. But 15 days before when the votes are all set to be announced further leads to question the intention of the person,” the ruling party said in a statement in English, not attributed to any spokesperson. “If anyone says he/ she is not getting respect within the party - why does this exit come, every time, 15 days before the elections are set to be announced?”

Hinting at the possibility of Roy joining the BJP ahead of the polls, the Trinamul said, a change in ideology cannot take place all of a sudden.“It can only happen either there is some compulsion or a better deal,” the Trinamul said.

Like many in the Trinamul, including party supremo and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy had started with the Congress. Roy has not cleared the air on speculation about his joining the BJP and being fielded as a probable from the Calcutta North Lok Sabha constituency.

Earlier in the day Roy, a three-time MP from three different constituencies, had claimed he was hurt as the Trinamul did not defend him following the raids by the Enforcement Directorate at his Bowbazar residence.

“I wasn’t present in the state Assembly that day for health reasons when the chief minister spoke about raids by ED. She mentioned Shahjahan Sheikh (arrested former Trinamul strongman from Sandeshkhali). She could have mentioned the raid at my house too,” Roy said, speaking to mediapersons at his Bowbazar residence. “I like it when she stands by those who are victimized. She hasn’t called me once in these 52 days.”

The Trinamul rejected Roy’s statement as “simply false and incorrect”.

“All attempts were made by the party to reach out to Tapas Roy. After theED raid, his phone was taken away for two days. When the number was activated, the leadership did speak to him but had realized and got the impression that he has already made up his mind and was under some compulsion,” the statement read.

The Trinamul asked why Roy had not quit when he was relieved as the party’s north Calcutta unit president or did not raise the Sandeshkhali incident.

The raid at Roy’s house happened a week after an ED team was attacked on January 5 by followers of the expelled, and now arrested, Trinamul strongman from Sandeshkhali.