BH CORRESPONDENT, Kolkata: With five months to go for the West Bengal elections, Mamata Banerjee’s ruling government seems to be in major trouble with one MLA after another leaving the party. After senior party leader and state transport minister, Suvendu Adhikari resigned from Trinamool Congress and Jitendra Tiwari, too, tendered his resignation as the chief of the Asansol Municipal Corporation, on Thursday, the Friday morning, also begun for CM Mamata with bad news. Barrackpore TMC MLA Shilbhadra Dutta has handed in his resignation. TMC has lost three MLAs within two days ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Bengal on Saturday. In fact, MC minority cell general secretary, Kabirul Islam also tendered his resignation Friday morning.
Adhikari had played a major role in the Nandigram movement and was Nandigram’s MLA. His role in Trinamool’s victory in the 2016 Bengal election cannot be ignored. Sources say that he is likely to join BJP in presence of Shah, who will arrive in Midnapore on December 19.
In another serious blow, TMC leader and Chairman of South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) Col. (R) Diptangshu Chaudhury Thursday resigned from his post. Retd. Col Chaudhury also tendered his resignation as the Advisor of the CMO’s Grievance & Monitoring Cell. Meanwhile, five TMC leaders in Malda have also resigned. TMC presidents of Gobindapur-Maheshpur, Bamon Gola, Pakua Hat, Joggodol, and Chandpur all under the Bamongola Block have quit the party. Many of the rebels are expected to join the saffron brigade in presence of Shah, who is likely to hold roadshows, attend public rallies in Bengal. Shah’s first stop during this visit to Midnapore will be the Ramkrishna Mission and Siddheshwari Kali temple. He will also have lunch at a farmer’s residence in Midnapore.
