Former minister quits TMC, resigns as MLA
KOLKATA: Former forest minister of West Bengal, Rajib Banerjee, quit the Trinamool Congress and resigned as a TMC MLA on Friday, fuelling speculation that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party during a scheduled visit of Union home minister Amit Shah. The central minister’s two-day visit to the eastern poll-bound state, however, was called off late on Friday.
Speculation was rife that Banerjee, along with a few other leaders, would the BJP during Shah’s visit.
“Dear colleagues and friends, this is to inform you all that I have submitted my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress with immediate effect,” Banerjee posted on social media.
He sent his resignation both to the chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in south Kolkata and the TMC headquarters in east Kolkata.
Earlier in the day, he went to the state legislative assembly and submitted his resignation to the speaker as a party legislator.
“I have resigned as a TMC MLA. I have submitted my resignation to the Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly,” Banerjee said. “In a democratic situation I cannot work alone without the banner of a large political party. I will let you know if I take any decision,” Rajib Banerjee said when asked whether he was joining the BJP during Shah’s visit.
Banerjee’s move has come close on the heels of resignations by other TMC leaders ahead of the March-april elections. Earlier, senior leader Suvendu Adhikari had quit the party and joined the BJP in the state. TMC’S Uttarpara MLA Prabir Ghosal also resigned from party posts on January 27.
Reacting to Banerjee quitting the party, senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim said: “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.”
The BJP said the trend of former TMC ministers and MLAS leaving the party indicated that the state’s ruling party was in a downward spiral.
“Many leaders have repeatedly said that it is hard to work in the TMC with respect and honor and that the party is heading towards the Intensive Care Unit. These incidents (minister and MLAS deserting the party) just reflect the same,” said Jai Prakash Majumdar, BJP’S state vice president