Kolkata: Ending weeks of speculation, TMC strongman Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday quit the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) further fuelling the theory of him switching over to the saffron camp. Adhikari relinquished all party positions and handed his resignation to Mamata Banerjee government. He was the MLA from Nandigram constituency.
"I am writing to tender my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) as well as from all other positions held by me in the party and its associate organs with immediate effect. I'm thankful for all the challenges and opportunities that have been afforded to me and I will always value my time spent as a member of the party," Adhikari wrote in the letter.
The former TMC leader had tendered his resignation from the membership of West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The leader also sought Governor Jagdeep Dhankar's intervention so that the state police is dissuaded from implicating him in criminal cases out of 'political vendetta.
In another significant development, TMC leader Jitendra Tiwari today tendered his resignation as the chief of the Asansol Municipal Corporation on Thursday, days after he accused the West Bengal government of depriving the industrial city of central funds under the smart city project.
Tiwari, the Trinamool Congress's Paschim Bardhaman district president, also lauded Suvendu Adhikari as the second-most important leader of the party after Mamata Banerjee.
After quitting the party, Tiwari said, "Asansol is deprived of funds and no money was allocated even after brought the issue in front of the state ministry. No pending issues were addressed by the govt. The govt earns thousand crores of revenue from Asansol but is not willing to spend a single penny on the city. Firhad Hakim knows that I have expressed my apprehensions in front of CM. If I can't work for the people, what's the point of sitting on this position?"
The leader also alleged that after he resigned as MLA, his office in Pandaveshwar was vandalised.
Reacting on Suvendu Adhikari's decision to quit as party MLA, TMC MLA Kalyan Banerjee said, "It's good that Suvendu Adhikari resigned as MLA. He was too ambitious and wanted to become Chief Minister. We are sure to win the assembly polls under Mamata Banerjee's leadership."
Speculations are rife that Adhikari may join BJP during Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Bengal on December 19. He gave up the cabinet portfolios in the Mamata Banerjee government on November 27.
The leader was given Z plus security by the Central government after his resignation yesterday.
TMC leader and Dum Dum MP Sougoto Roy said, "I don't think Suvendu will get a good position in BJP. Why would anyone leave his or her post in BJP? Did Mukul Roy get the deserving post after joining the saffron camp? Suvendu also won't get."
Reports suggest that Suvendu Adhikari can join BJP in the presence of Amit Shah in Medinipur, his home turf.
The state BJP leaders had repeatedly said that they would welcome Adhikari if he wants to join the saffron brigade in Bengal.
Sources said that Adhikari was unhappy with organizational 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.
The party did make efforts to placate the leader and Adhikari was not willing to budge.
Adhikari, a leader with a mass base, holds considerable clout in Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and some other parts of south Bengal. He played a significant role in the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram that catapulted Mamata Banerjee to power in the state in 2011.
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. His desertion may adversely impact the TMC's prospects in these areas in the next assembly polls for 294 seats.
