Kolkata, June 14 -- Amid the ongoing political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to weaken the party through its alleged "Operation Lotus" strategy, claiming that recent defections were a result of inducements and pressure tactics.

Speaking to ANI, Roy said the BJP had been trying to destabilise the TMC by targeting party members and encouraging them to break ranks.

"This is part of the BJP's ongoing Operation Lotus. They tempted and threatened the TMC people. Those who are weak--those lacking principles or whose convictions aren't solid--have left," Roy said.

He further alleged that the strategy being purs...