Former Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia, who had unsuccessfully contested 2014 Lok Sabha election from Darjeeling constituency, on Monday announced that he has resigned from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). "As of today I have officially resigned from the membership and all the official and political posts of All India Trinamool Congress party. I am no longer a member or associated with any political party in India," the former Indian international striker tweeted. The Trinamool Congress officially declined to comment on the development. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee was not available for comment. However, a TMC source in West Bengal said that Bhutia expressed his desire to quit the party a month ago. "There was no misunderstanding with him and the entire matter was done in a cordial manner. He expressed his desire to quit the party a month ago," the source said. However, speculations are rife that Bhutia might get involved in the Sikkim politics as the state would go to Assembly polls in 2019. Sources also said that he might side with the BJP before the Lok Sabha polls.
