DRAMA AS BJP MP’S WIFE JOINS TMC; ADHIKARI’S RESIGNATION ACCEPTED

KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, who recently quit as Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker, said on Monday that his resignation as MLA has been accepted by speaker Biman Banerjee. “Assembly speaker had called me regarding my resignation as MLA of the House... I was told my resignation has been accepted,” said Adhikari who was inducted in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently.

Meanwhile, Sujata Mondal Khan, wife of BJP Bengal youth front president Saumitra Khan, joined the TMC, saying the state’s main opposition party was filling its ranks with corrupt and ambitious leaders from other parties by promising them high posts.

She alleged that she was not shown any respect in the BJP although she worked hard for it when the party was struggling.

Her sudden move triggered a family drama with Khan, 39, calling a media conference and declaring that he will send his wife divorce papers within 24 hours. “I am heartbroken to see 10 years of companionship coming to an end in this manner. The Lakshmi of my home has been stolen,” said Khan as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Sujata, I will send you papers for mutual divorce. Please sign them and do not use Khan, my surname, from today,” he said.

KOLKATA: Sujata Mondal Khan, wife of BJP Bengal youth front president Saumitra Khan, joined the ruling TMC on Monday, alleging that the state’s main opposition party was filling its ranks with corrupt and ambitious leaders from other parties by promising them high office.

Sujata Khan, 32, said she hadn’t been shown any respect in the BJP although she worked hard for it when the party was struggling in Bengal. The 32-year-old did not hold any significant post in the BJP.

Her move triggered an unprecedented family drama in Bengal politics, with Saumitra Khan, 39, calling a media conference and declaring that he will send her divorce papers to sign within 24 hours.

“I am heartbroken to see 10 years of companionship coming to an end in this manner. The Lakshmi (the Hindu goddess of prosperity) of my home has been stolen,” said Khan as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Sujata,

I will send you papers for mutual divorce. Please sign them and do not use Khan, my surname, from today,” he said.

Sujata Khan was welcomed into the TMC by Lok Sabha member Saugata Roy and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh. “Sujata is like my daughter. We are happy to have her in the party,” said Roy.

Jay Prakash Majumdar, state vice-president of the BJP, said: “Unlike Saumitra Khan, his wife does not have a history in politics. This does not have any political significance for us.”