Mamata’s worries mount as another MLA resigns after Suvendu’s exit

KOLKATA: Rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Suvendu Adhikari formally tendered his resignation to party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, when he also resigned from the state Assembly, sources confirmed on Thursday. A day earlier, Suvendu Adhikari had resigned as an MLA.

His resignation was soon followed by TMC MLA Jitendra Tiwari stepping down as the chief of Asansol Municipal Corporation. Tiwari’s resignation comes days after he accused the TMC government of depriving Asansol of central funds for “political reasons”.

The day also saw the Centre and the West Bengal government slugging it out over the Union Home Ministry’s fresh letter asking the state government to relieve three IPS officers for central deputation. The West Bengal government termed this letter “unconstitutional”.

Meanwhile, Adhikari tendered his resignation addressing an official letter to Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee. “I am writing to tender my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) as well as from all other positions held by me in the party and its associate organs with immediate effect. I’m thankful for all the challenges and opportunities that have been afforded to me and I will always value my time spent as a member of the party,” Adhikari wrote in the letter.

Adhikari has already resigned from the state legislative assembly on Wednesday evening. He went to the assembly building and submitted a hand-written letter at the secretariat as speaker Biman Banerjee was not present in his office.

Earlier, Adhikari had tendered his resignation as minister from the Mamata Banerjee-led state cabinet last month, on 27 November. He had also left the chairperson’s post of the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioner’s (HRBC) two days before that.

Sources said that Adhikari was unhappy with organisational decisions taken by Abhishek Banerjee and political strategist Prashant Kishor. Adhikari and Banerjee were even seen taking potshots indirectly at each other without taking names at recent public meetings in the past.

Speculations were also rife if Suvendu would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the crucial state Assembly polls scheduled in 2021. The state BJP leaders had repeatedly said that they would welcome Adhikari if he wants to join the saffron brigade in Bengal.