Rajib quits as MLA, leaves Trinamul; set to join BJP
Elated BJP says beginning of the end of TMC rule has started
In yet another rude jolt to West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, former state forest minister Rajib Banerjee on Friday resigned as the MLA of Domjur in Howrah and also quit the party.
Mr Banerjee, who was a two-time TMC legislator since 2011, is among six heavyweights, with clean image and eminence, who were supposed to join the BJP on Sunday in presence of Union home minister Mr Amit Shah at Dumurjola Stadium in the district in what appears to be his second mega induction fair cum rally after Shubhendu Adhikari’s defection with a large number of loyalists from the TMC last month.
Apart from Mr Banerjee, five others, who are his loyalists too, are late ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter and Bally MLA Baishali Dalmiya, who was recently expelled from the TMC for supporting Mr Banerjee’s resignation as a cabinet minister; Howrah North MLA and former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who quit as a minister of state for sports and left the Trinamul Congress; former Howrah Mayor and eminent doctor Rathin Chakraborty; TMC MLA of Shibpur in Howrah Jatu Lahiri and journalist-turned TMC MLA of Uttarpara in Hooghly Prabir Ghoshal, according to sources.
Carrying a portrait of the CM, Mr Banerjee visited the Assembly in the afternoon. “I tendered his resignation as an MLA to Speaker Biman Banerjee. He asked me some questions which I replied. He told me he would announce his decision after examining my resignation letter. I express my gratitude to my party supremo for making me MLA and minister. I will remain indebted to her forever. She is a motherfigure to me,” he said.
Asked about joining the BJP, Mr Banerjee added, “It is true I needed time for mental preparation. That is why after quiting the cabinet, I waited for seven days to take this decision because one has to be under a party umbrella to work for the people in parliamentary democracy. Otherwise one can not work as an independent. I will announce my decision on Saturday.”
He later informed Ms Banerjee in a letter, “I do hereby tender my resignation as a member of All India Trinamul Congress as well as from all other positions held by me in the party and its associates with immediate effect. I am thankful for all the challenges and opportunities that has been afforded to me and I will always value my time spent as a member of the party.”
Reacting to Banerjee quitting the party, senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim said, “Rajib should clarify what took him so long to resign and that too ahead of the polls”. “If he has quit for personal reasons, I have nothing to say. But if he has quit to join BJP, why did he wait so long. He should have resigned two years ago. This only show their true colours,” Hakim, also senior minister, said.
An elated BJP said the “beginning of the end of the TMC has already begun” and the party would disintegrate soon.
“It is only a matter of time before TMC disintegrates. Those who want to join in the fight against TMC should join us,” state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.