Suvendu Adhikari, among the tallest leaders of the Trinamool Congress, severed all ties with West Bengal's ruling party on Thursday by sending his resignation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“I am writing to tender my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress as well as other positions held by me in the party and its associate organs with immediate effect”, Mr. Adhikari wrote in a letter to Ms. Banerjee dated December 16.
While the leader did not specify reasons for his resignation, he thanked the party chairperson for “challenges and opportunities” presented by the party and noted that he would value his time spent as a member of the party.
Months of speculation
The development brings to an end months of speculation over his differences with the Trinamool Congress . Several senior party leaders had attempted to placate him and persuade him not to leave.
Mr Adhikari's resignation comes a day after he resigned as a member of the Legislative Assembly and almost 20 days after he resigned as a Minister. Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee said there remained a status quo as regards Mr Adhikari's status as an MLA as the matter was still under consideration and the resignation had not been accepted.
After Mr Adhikari's resignation, a number of block and district level leaders also came forward to tender their resignation from the party and the posts they occupy.
Jitendra Tewari too resigns
In another important development, Jitendra Tewari, MLA from Pandaveshwar Assembly seat in Paschim Bardhaman district also resigned from Trinamool Congress. Mr Tewari, who was administrator of Asansol Municipal Corporation also quit the administrative post. He was also president of Trinamool Congress for Paschim Bardhaman district.
A few days ago, Mr Tewari had written to State's Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim alleging that because of policies of the State Asansol has been deprived of the smart city project of the Centre. "
I wanted to meet with Didi ( Mamata Banerjee) but within hours of my resignation as administrator of Asansol Municipal Corporation today my party office has been attacked. Therefore, it is clear that some leaders don't want me in the party. I am resigning from all posts of Trinamool Congress," Mr Tewari said.
Another party leader Diptangshu Chaudhary, who was chairman of South Bengal Surface Transport Corporation resigned from the administrative post.
During the day, Mr Adhikari participated in a public event in Purba Medinipur district but refrained from making any political comments.
BJP State president Dilip Ghosh said Mr Adhikari was welcome to join the BJP.
The Trinamool Congress leadership said Mr. Adhikari was on the way to joining the very party [the BJP] that had played Narada news sting videos of him ‘accepting cash’ in their party office and demanding his arrest. “We think his decision is out of fear, not love for the BJP,” TMC leader and spokesperson Kumal Ghosh said.
All eyes on Shah's rally
Meanwhile, all eyes are at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposed public rally on December 19 in Medinipur. Speculation is rife that Mr Adhikari, along with other dissent leaders, including Bardhaman Purba MP Sunil Kumar Mondal, will join the BJP at the rally. Mr. Shah is likely to visit West Bengal during the weekend.
