West Bengal: Exodus from Trinamool continues as another MLA quits party

About a dozen TMC MLAs and heads of elected bodies are believed to be preparing to resign and walk with Suvendu to the BJP.

Silbhadra Datta resigns, Silbhadra Datta quits, TMC MLA Silbhadra Datta, Mamata Banerjee, Bengal elections, Suvendu Adhikari quits, TMC West Bengal, Benagl news, Indian express

Suvendu's step is likely to open the floodgates for an exodus from the TMC to the BJP at multiple levels across the state. (Picture used for representational purpose)

A day after former transport minister Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the Trinamool Congress, the party’s Barrackpore MLA, Shilbhadra Dutta, quit and sent his resignation to party supremo Mamata Banerjee.

In his resignation letter, Dutta wrote, “I am tendering my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress as well as from all others positions held by me in the party and its associate organisation with immediate effect.” Dutta had earlier refused to meet the party’s election strategist Prashant Kishore and his team.

On Thursday, Jitendra Tiwari, MLA from Pandabeswar and president of the TMC’s Paschim Bardhaman district unit, had resigned from all positions in the party.

Tiwari, a former chairperson of the Asansol Corporation, had recently shot a letter to Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim accusing the government of blocking Rs 2,000 crore of central funds for the smart city project.

Must Read | How politicians have moved in and out of TMC over the past decade

Another TMC MP Sunil Mandal and Bengal forest minister Rajib Banerjee have also spoken out against the party.

As reported by The Indian Express earlier, Adhikari’s resignation is likely to trigger an exodus from the TMC to the BJP at multiple levels across the state. Several rebel TMC MLAs and leaders are likely to join the BJP along with Suvendu at a public meeting presided over by Home Minister Amit Shah in Medinipur over the weekend, sources said. The rest are likely to wait and watch for now.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Kabirul Islam also resigned from the post of general secretary of the party’s minority cell. Sources close to Islam confirmed the news and said, “Kabirul Islam has sent his resignation letter today to party’s minority cell president Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam. He has expressed his displeasure against party’s top leadership and its political strategist Prashant Kishor’s team. He has expressed his desire to follow Suvendu Adhikari wherever he goes.”

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram