Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Rai on Monday resigned from the Rajya Sabha and left the party, ending his long association with the TMC.
This development comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing growing internal opposition that could lead to a split, after its loss to the BJP in West Bengal.
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In his resignation letter, Rai said the people of West Bengal had given a decisive mandate in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state.
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Referring to the election result, Rai wrote: “In the recently held elections to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the people gave a major mandate to the BJP for the first time in the state’s history to put an end to the 15-year-long chaotic rule of the Trinamool Congress.”
He further alleged that the TMC government was characterized by “widespread corruption, atrocities against women and abject failure in the field of health, education, industry, law and order, employment etc.”
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The former Rajya Sabha member compared the previous government with the newly elected administration, noting that “the newly elected people’s government has started taking initiatives for comprehensive development and reconstruction in West Bengal as per its election manifesto.”
Announcing his resignation from both positions, Ray said he would step down in acceptance of the public ruling.
“Out of respect for this historic judgment of the people, I have today resigned from the Rajya Sabha (the House of States) as a member and also from the primary membership of the All India Trinamool Congress,” he wrote.
The transitional military council crisis worsens
A month after it lost power in West Bengal and a few days after 58 rebel armies took control of the legislative party, the TMC is facing one of the biggest challenges in its history.
Since the BJP was voted out of office after ruling the state for 15 consecutive years, the party has suffered a series of setbacks.
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One of the biggest blows came on June 3 when Bangladesh Speaker Rathendra Nath Bose recognized 58 lawmakers from the rebel TMC, led by MLA Raitabrata Banerjee, as the main opposition group.
While rebel lawmakers continue to accept Mamata Banerjee as their leader, they have publicly rejected the authority of her nephew and political successor Abhishek Banerjee.
The crisis became more evident on June 5 when only eight non-rebel MLAs attended a meeting called by the party leadership at Mamata Banerjee’s residence.
Ajmal Siddiqui resigns from TMC
Earlier on June 6, TMC’s Ajmal Siddiqui announced his resignation from the party. Siddiqui said his decision was due to the party’s internal performance and the influence of its leadership. He also accused TMC Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee of having a “dictatorial attitude”.
He said the party brings “bad reputation” and accused many of its leaders of engaging in “unsavory activities.”
