Former Trinamul all-India general secretary Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu (right) on Wednesday heaped praise on Mamata Banerjee and underscored his father's role as a "loyal soldier" of the party, at a rally the chief minister's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee (left), addressed in Dum Dum.

"She is the guardian of the party and all its members. Mukul Roy is a loyal soldier of the party. I hope he will work as a disciplined worker of the party under the guidance of Mamata Banerjee," Subhrangshu, an MLA, said.

Asked later if he was trying to broker peace between Roy and Mamata, Subhrangshu said: "Mukul Roy served the party with his blood and sweat. But he became Mukul Roy only because of the party and Mamata Banerjee. None of us in the party means anything without the umbrella of the chief minister. Those who believe that Mukul Roy will form a party are living in a fool's paradise."

A group of people believed to be close to Roy has formed a political outfit. Roy has denied association with it.

Picture by Mayukh Sengupta