MAMATA MAY FIGHT BY-ELECTION FROM BHAWANIPORE AS MLA VACATES SEAT

KOLKATA: West Bengal agriculture minister and Bhawanipore legislator Sobhandeb Chattopaddhyay resigned from the assembly on Friday, clearing the way for chief minister Mamata Banerjee to contest a byelection from the constituency she represented twice since coming to power a decade ago.

Banerjee took oath as chief minister on May 5 for the third time despite losing her election from the high-profile Nandigram seat to her protégé-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari. Under the rules, she has to get elected to the House in six months.

“My party did not ask me to resign. I was under no pressure. I took the decision as a sincere worker of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) so that Mamata can contest from Bhawanipore again,” Chattopadhyay said after putting in his papers. “Her role in state and national politics is more important right now,” he added. Assembly speaker Biman Banerjee confirmed the resignation. “Chattopadhyay came to my officer a little after 2.30 pm and submitted his resignation. He said it is his voluntary decision. I have accepted it,” he said.

With Chattopadhyay’s resignation, Bhawanipore becomes the sixth assembly seat to fall vacant. TMC leaders said Banerjee will decide what role Chattopadhyay will play. He may contest any of the vacant seats.

The party may also send him to the Rajya Sabha, replacing Dinesh Trivedi who joined the BJP on May 6.