The twists and turns in Indian politics can often be more riveting than best-selling thrillers. Friends turn foe in hurry, and arch-enemies embrace each other when needed. But the dramatic fallout of Sovan Chatterjee with Mamata Banerjee is so unexpected that few would have guessed it from before. 

For as long as Trinamool Congress has existed, Sovan Chatterjee has been a steady source of support for Mamata Banerjee. Together they have faced many political highs and lows. Mamata with her firebrand image trying to take on the Left, Sovan with the likes of Mukul Roy and Subrata Mukherjee providing the second rung of leadership. 

Hence, at a time when TMC's fortunes are at peak, Sovan Chatterjee resigning in a hurry after a war of words with Mamata Banerjee would come as a surprise to many. But the fact is that the rift was slowly growing through the months. Sovan Chatterjee who is currently fighting a divorce case had lost his appetite for hard work that made him such a trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee. Her relationship with a college professor became a matter of hot gossip amongst the party and press in Bengal. With work suffering, Mamata Banerjee had given Sovan friendly warning several times. By taking away environment ministry from him, a message was sent to shape up or ship out. Yet, there was no marked improvement in Sovan Chatterjee's work ethics. Saddled with Mayorship of Kolkata and Housing and fire services Ministry, Chatterjee needed to be right on the ball. But with wavering attention, there were slip-ups. He just wasn't the consummate politician, which a city like Kolkata needed as a Mayor. Long gone was the all-weather friend Sovan Chatterjee, whom Kolkata had seen from 2010 solving problems faced by the citizens with a hands-on approach.

The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back was on Tuesday when Mamata Banerjee publicly chided him for getting facts wrong on the floor of the Assembly. In the afternoon, Mamata Banerjee confronted his once man-Friday Sovan Chatterjee in speaker's chamber. There she blasted him for non-performance and even hinted that Kolkata mayor is spending more time at saree stores these days, as per reports. Sovan Chatterjee took it as a below the belt attack and said that the lady in consideration doesn't need his money to buy sarees. This lead to a fiery exchange of words between the two leaders with Sovan finally storming out of the room saying he will resign if there is no place for him in TMC. 

Within the next few hours, Sovan sent his resignation mentioning that he is taking this decision under 'compulsion'. The curt tone of the letter took West Bengal CM by surprise who promptly decided to accept it. Later Mamata told media, "He has put in his papers and his resignation has been accepted. Earlier too he had resigned but I didn't accept it. He has been asked to resign from the mayor's post as well. A new mayor will be appointed in due time". 

Sovan’s former wife Ratna Chatterjee said that he had brought it upon himself. “He had been one of the closest to Mamata and had worked for 30-35 years to reach the place he is in at present. Now his downfall is because of his own fault. I don't know what has happened to him.  I don't recognise him anymore,” she told mediapersons.

The media is agog with speculation about Sovan Chatterjee's next move. The BJP has already made it clear that their doors are open for the veteran leader. But will 'Kanan', as Sovan was fondly called by Mamata and other leaders switch sides and betray his didi? Or will there be a rapprochement in the future? Or will Sovan Chatterjee leave politics to start a new life? The answers to these questions are blowing in the wind or kal-'baisakhi' in this case.