Kolkata: Ending weeks of speculations, Trinamool Congress (TMC) heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari resigned Wednesday as an MLA of the West Bengal Assembly. His latest move further fuelled the theory of him switching over to the saffron camp. Suvendu Adhikari had in the last few weeks resigned from all government positions and minister.
Adhikari has been maintaining distance with the party leadership for some time now. He arrived Wednesday evening at the West Bengal Assembly and submitted his resignation to the Secretary. He was TMC MLA from Nandigram Assembly constituency of East Midnapore district.
“I do hereby tender my resignation from the member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Steps may be taken for its immediate acceptance,” Adhikari wrote in his resignation letter.
Adhikari had helped Mamata Banerjee in her anti- land acquisition movement against the Left Front government in Nandigram in 2009. It was this movement that catapulted her to power in 2011.
After the efforts of rapprochement failed, Adhikari, without naming anyone, has criticised the TMC leadership on a range of issues. According to the sources, Adhikari is likely to resign from the party’s primary membership within a day or two. He is expected to cross over to the saffron camp later this week.
Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to be on a two-day visit to Bengal starting Saturday. He will visit Adhikari’s district also.
Reacting to the development, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said, ‘it’s a good relief’.
“It’s a good relief that he has resigned from the post of MLA. He is overambitious and wants to join BJP. He wants to become the next CM or deputy CM. He can go ahead. We are confident of winning the next Assembly polls under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee,” Kalyan said.
Also read: Hours after resignation BJP opens door for disgruntled TMC MLA Suvendu Adhikari
BJP national vice-president Mukul Roy hailed Adhikari’s decision. He said the saffron party would welcome Adhikari with open arms.
“The day Suvendu Adhikari had resigned from the state cabinet, I had said I would be happy if he leaves the TMC and joins the BJP. Today he has resigned as MLA, and I welcome his decision,” Roy said.
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh also lauded Adhikari’s decision and said the BJP would be happy to welcome him.
Efforts by veteran TMC leaders like Saugata Roy and Sudip Bandopadhyay for reconciliation had failed to placate Adhikari.
It should be stated here that Adhikari is an influential leader with a mass base. He has maintained that it is ‘difficult for him to work with the party anymore’.
Adhikari is himself a two-term former MP. His father, Sisir Adhikari and brother Dibyendu are sitting TMC MPs from Tamluk and Kanthi Lok Sabha constituencies respectively.
The influential political family gave Mamata Banerjee’s rally in their stronghold West Medinipur district last week a miss. It prompted Bannerjee to accuse the BJP of trying to break her party by using ‘moneybag’.
The Adhikari family wields considerable influence in at least 40-45 Assembly segments. These segments are in West Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, parts of Birbhum districts. Adhikari’s desertion may adversely impact the TMC’s prospects in these areas in the next Assembly polls for 294 seats.