TMC minister Suvendu Adhikari resigns; BJP says its doors open

NEW DELHI: In a setback for the Trinamool Congress ahead of next year's Assembly election in Bengal, senior minister and the party's rural strongman Suvendu Adhikari has resigned as the state’s transport minister. Meanwhile, state BJP leaders said they are in touch with Adhikari and he will be welcomed in the party soon.

On Friday, MLA Mihir Goswami, an MLA from TMC in Cooch Behar, also resigned from the primary membership of the party, alleging that he has been humiliated, and that his grievances have found no redressal from Mamata Bannerjee. Goswami joined the BJP on Friday evening.

The TMC has also already asked its senior leaders, including Sudeep Bandopadhyay, to reach out to him and to the 12 MLAs from South Bengal considered close to him. Spokesperson Saugata Roy was asked to talk to Adhikari who was seemingly disgruntled with his “constant sidelining and diminished role.”

Among the party's most influential mass leaders after Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari has hold over rural voters, and played a big role during Nandigram protests and later, which helped topple the Left government. Adhikari also comes from a political family, with both his father Sisir Adhikari and brother Dibyendu Adhikari being Lok Sabha MPs.

According to TMC sources his resignation from the cabinet will soon lead to his exit from the party. "But we are optimistic that if didi speaks with him, he will not leave. He has been with her since the party began," a TMC office bearer said on condition of anonymity.

For the last three months, Adhikari had openly revolted against the TMC, skipping all party and cabinet meetings. And, at his numerous rallies, there were no Trinamool flags, banners or portraits of the Chief Minister, but supporters were seen wearing T-shirts with slogans Amra Dadar Anugaami (We are supporters of Dada). However, in his meetings, Adhikari did not talk about joining the BJP of floating his own outfit but kept reiterating that he had risen up the party ranks through people connect and was not "parachuted."

Dilip Ghosh, chief of the BJP's state unit, called Adhikari a "self respecting" leader. "He is a fighter. He will be given full respect in the party. This is the beginning of the end of the Trinamool," he said. "Suvendu ji was upset with Mamata Banerjee's arrogance and corruption. If Suvendu ji comes to BJP he will be welcomed. Many leaders from TMC will join BJP, we are in touch with few of them," BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya who is also the Bengal in charge said.