Two-time Trinamool Congress Legislator Banasri Maity resigned from the party's primary membership on Friday, being the fourth person to quit in the past 48 hours.
The resignation from the two-time MLA from Bengal's Kanthi Uttar constituency has triggered speculations that the legislator might join the long list of leaders from the ruling camp who have either joined the BJP or have plans to do so.
Just a day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) senior leader Suvendu Adhikari had resigned from the party, Silbhadra Datta, TMC MLA from Barrackpore Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, tendered his resignation from the party.
“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.”Indian Express quoted Silbhadra Datta’s resignation letter
It is important to note that Maity is the MLA from Kanthi Uttar in East Midnapore district, which falls in the stronghold of rebel Trinamool Congress leader Suvendu Adhikari.
TMC leader Kabirul Islam, general secretary of the party's minority cell, also tendered his resignation from the party post, reported news agency ANI.
This comes a day after TMC MLA Jitendra Tiwari from Pandabeswar and president of the TMC’s Paschim Bardhaman district unit also resigned from all his positions in the party.
On Thursday, Diptanshu Chowdhury (retd) also resigned from the post of South Bengal State Transport Corporation and head of the state's grievance monitoring cell. Chowdhary sent his letter to Mamata Banerjee as well as the governor, reported NDTV.
Barrackpore MLA Silbhadra Dutta too resigned from the party’s primary membership on Friday.
Earlier today, TMC Asansol district Chief Jitendra Tiwari was seen leaving for Kolkata along with two more rebel TMC leaders.
“When state government thought my life was precious, it gave me security. Now government feels my life has no worth, my security has been removed,” ANI quoted Tiwari as saying.
Meanwhile, several TMC workers were also seen tearing posters and raising slogans against Tiwari in Asansol. They claimed that Tiwari has betrayed Mamata Banerjee and TMC.
“He conned people of Asansol on the pretext of development. He was a Hitler, who misbehaved with TMC workers," ANI quoted a TMC worker as saying.
Tiwari, a former chairperson of the Asansol Corporation, had recently written 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.
Tiwari Makes a U-Turn
Meanwhile, MLA Jitendra Tiwari did a U-turn within 24 hours of tendering his resignation from the party. Tiwari reportedly said he had made a mistake and urged the party leadership to not accept his resignation.
The Pandabeswar MLA had resigned as the chief of the Asansol Municipal Corporation on Thursday and quit the party hours later to follow rebel leader Suvendu Adhikari into the BJP.
On Friday, Tiwari met senior Trinamool leader Arup Biswas and poll strategist Prashant Kishor and reportedly admitted there “were some misunderstandings” and that he would apologise to the party head.
Suvendu Adhikari to Get ‘Z’ Category
As the political slugfest in West Bengal gets deeper, the former TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari will be provided with ‘Z’ category security, as per the orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“Security arrangement for Suvendhu Adhikari has been examined in the ministry in consultation with Central Security Agencies and it has been decided to provide him with ‘Z’ category CRPF security cover with bulletproof vehicle in West Bengal,” ANI quoted the MHA statement.
Adhikari’s resignation has triggered several ministers to walk out from the party.
Amit Shah to Hold Public Rally in Midnapore
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will land in Kolkata on Friday, 18 December. During the two-day visit in the state, Shah will hold a roadshow in Birbhum and a public rally in Midnapore.
Midnapore is considered to be a stronghold of Suvendu Adhikari. According to the Indian Express report, an induction ceremony will be held in Midnapore on Saturday, 19 December.
Several other leaders might also join TMC in presence of Amit Shah in Kolkata.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times, ANI and Indian Express)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)