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After quitting West Bengal cabinet, Rajib Banerjee resigns from TMC

Rajib-Banerjee

Days after resigning from Mamata Banerjee cabinet, Rajib Banerjee on Friday resigned from the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal Assembly. Rajib was the forest minister in the Bengal government and represented Domjur in Howrah. This comes as another setback for TMC, which is going to contest the West Bengal elections 2021 not only against the BJP,  but also against  the Left- Congress alliance.

Banerjee met Speaker Biman Banerjee at the state Assembly today and submitted his resignation letter.

“I have resigned as the MLA of the state assembly. I submitted my resignation letter to the speaker. I thank my party supremo Mamata Banerjee for providing me with the opportunity to serve the masses,” Banerjee, a two-time MLA, said. Talking to the media after tendering his resignation, Banerjee said that he is still a member of the party but is not yet mentally prepared to take a step.

“I believe to do good for people, & party affiliation is necessary in a dynamic democracy. I will tell you of my decision in coming days”, he added. “In the days to come, I would continue to serve the people of the Domjur constituency,” he further added.

Also Read: West Bengal: a tough battlefield for BJP

Earlier, in a letter to the CM, Rajib Banerjee had said, “I regret to inform you that I hereby tender my resignation from my office as Cabinet minister being in charge of Forest department.”

The TMC has been hit by a series of defections ever since Nandigram mascot and party heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari jumped ship to join the BJP along with nine MLAs.

Also See: Trilateral fight in West Bengal- issue with the Left

On Wednesday, TMC MLA from Uttarpara, Prabir Ghosal stepped down as district core committee member and spokesperson of the party’s Hooghly unit. The TMC had issued a show-cause notice to Ghosal for making anti-party remarks.

On January 22, Rajeeb Banerjee had stepped down from his ministerial post. Speculations were rife at that time that he may quit the ruling party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the crucial assembly elections due in April-May. BJP leaders have already said that some political leaders are likely to join their party during Shah’s visit.

Shah’s weekend tour 

Shah was scheduled to land in Kolkata on Friday and would be camping in the state over the weekend for the party’s election campaign.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

“On Saturday morning, Shah will be visiting Iskcon, Mayapur. Then he will be going to Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas, a bastion of Matuas, where he will address a public rally. Later in the day, he will hold a closed-door meeting with social media cell of the party. He has some other engagements too,” a state BJP leader said.

During Shah’s last visit to the state in December 2020, former TMC heavyweight and minister Suvendu Adhikari had joined the BJP.

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TMC insists that Rajib is still with party after he criticizes the party leadership

A day after state minister Rajib Banerjee lashed out on the party management in TMC, claiming that leaders with talents had been being sidelined, with the party leaders dismissing reviews of rifts, the party insists that he is still in TMC. Cabinet Minister of Urban development, Firhad Hakim stated, “There is no controversy with Rajib. He is very much in our party and will stay with us.”

The new problem in TMC fold, Rajib Banerjee, the state forest minister, mentioned, “Whenever I tried to prove my competence and skill, I was relegated to the backseat. I do not know what happened. Corrupt leaders, liars, and those who do not enjoy the confidence of people are being brought to the forefront just because they are sycophants.” The recent rebel, former state transport minister, Suvendu Adhikari was the last TMC leader who had broken away from TMC.

Few days back, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had specifically said that those in contact with the Opposition and other parties like BJP were free to go away from the party. “Mamata Banerjee has sent a loud and clear message to all rebels within the party. If they need to stay within the party they will have to work for the party. Those speaking against the party will not be tolerated. She, however, did not name any leader,” said a senior TMC leader who attended the virtual meeting held by Banerjee with TMC leaders from across the state.

Rajib Banerjee had recently lashed out, “It hurts me when I see that those who have the competence and dexterity and are working on ground standing amidst people are not given any importance. Instead, those sitting in AC chambers and thinking that they would be able to fool the people are occupying the front seats.”

This is, however, not the first time that Rajib Banerjee has spoken out against corruption. Earlier this year, he had said the party’s drive against in-house corruption should be aimed at not only ‘’small fries’’ but also against ‘’big fish’’. A senior minister, however, hit out at Banerjee, accusing him of echoing BJP’s stance. Rajib had at one point of time in his criticism compared the TMC with a paradise of fools.

Even as the TMC is desperately trying to fix the chinks in its armour, more gaps are appearing with one after another leader speaking out against the party.

Dilip Ghosh, president of the BJP’s Bengal unit said, “Those who have minimum self-respect left within them, will not be able to work in the TMC. It is because in the TMC party, only those who hail from a particular house in Kalighat are allowed to become leaders. The rest who gave their sweat and blood will always remain as employees.”

Earlier while Mihir Goswami, a TMC MLA had switched over to the BJP, Silbhadra Dutta another TMC MLA from Barrackpore lashed out against poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s team without naming it. Kishor was roped in by the TMC leadership after the BJP made some impressive gains in the 2019 elections.

BJP leaders have already named at least seven MPs and MLAs, claiming that it is just a matter of time before the lawmakers from the ruling TMC in West Bengal resign from the party and join the BJP.