Rebel TMC MLA Suvendu Adhikari Resigns From West Bengal Assembly Amid Reports Of Joining BJP

The former West Bengal Transport and Irrigation Minister and TMC heavyweight from East Midnapore district Adhikari is likely to join the saffron clad later this week.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Kolkata: In a much speculated move, disgruntled Trinamool Congress heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday tendered his resignation as an MLA from West Bengal. The resignation comes amid speculations that the former TMC leader is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As per reports, the former West Bengal Transport and Irrigation Minister and TMC heavyweight from East Midnapore district Adhikari is likely to join the saffron clad during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's proposed visit to Bengal later this week. Both Adhikari and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee were at loggerheads as reportedly the former 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. Party insiders close to news agency IANS said that Adhikari may also travel to Delhi seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before Dec 19. While addressing an apolitical meeting at Haldia observing the 121st birth anniversary of freedom fighter Satish Samanta, Adhikari said that he would work towards generating employment for the youth, improve agriculture and restoring democracy in Bengal in the days to come. Adhikari had tendered his resignation as minister from the Mamata Banerjee-led state cabinet last month, on November 27. He had also left the chairperson's post of the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioner's (HRBC) two days before that. Speculations were also rife over whether Suvendu would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the crucial state Assembly polls scheduled in 2021. The state BJP leaders had said that they would welcome Adhikari if he wants to join the saffron brigade in Bengal. Meanwhile commenting on Adhikari's resignation, BJP Vice President Mukul Roy said: "The day Suvendu Adhikari had resigned from the ministerial post, I had told I will be happy if he leaves TMC and we will welcome him. Today he has resigned from the membership of West Bengal Legislative Assembly and I welcome his decision." He also said that the TMC is collapsing like a house of cards as everyday someone from the party comes to join us. "It was bound to happen. Many MLAs left TMC earlier too & joined our party. There's no democracy or respect for people in TMC. Those who want to join in the change in Bengal & contribute to its development are leaving TMC & joining us," BJP Bengal Chief Dilip Ghosh said. Adhikari has recently criticized the TMC leadership, saying it is giving more importance to the party than people. Hitting out at the TMC leadership, Adhikari said, "Why should there be a 'by the party, for the party of the party' rule in Bengal? This is democracy. We need to restore the rules as per the Indian Constitution which states 'by the people, of the people and for the people'... I am not greedy for posts. All my life, I have worked for the masses." An influential leader with a mass base, Adhikari said that those trying to malign him will get a befitting reply in the 2021 assembly polls. Speaking on the anti-farmland acquisition movement at Nandigram in 2007, Adhikari, one of the prominent faces of the stir, said it was a people's movement and "neither any political party nor any individual should try to take advantage of it". In the recent past Adhikari, an influential leader with a mass base who had resigned from the Mamata Banerjee cabinet and other positions that he held a few days ago, has maintained that it is "difficult for him to work with the party". The Adhikari family wields considerable influence in at least 40-45 assembly segments in West Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, parts of Birbhum -- mainly in the Junglemahal region and areas in minority-dominated Murshidabad district.