Senior Trinamool leader Suvendhu Adhikari is likely to quit the party too, sources say (File)
Senior Trinamool Congress leader Suvendu Adhikari, who has made no secret of his discontent within the party, today quit as a cabinet minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, sending his letter of resignation to the Chief Minister and emailing a copy to Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Mr Adhikari, who heads the transport and irrigation ministries, remains a member of the party and a MLA, for now. Sources, however, say he is likely to quit the party too. Mr Adhikari is reportedly heading to Delhi on Saturday, and the big question is - will he join the BJP?
"Today at 1:05 pm a resignation letter of Mr Suvendu Adhikari from office as minister addressed to Honourable Chief Minister has been forwarded to me. The issue will be addressed from constitutional perspective," Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted.
Today at 1:05 pm a resignation letter of Mr. Suvendu Adhikari from office as minister addressed to Hon'ble Chief Minister has been forwarded to me.
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) November 27, 2020
The issue will be addressed from constitutional perspective. pic.twitter.com/cxjF68uomH
In his letter Mr Adhikari said: "I thank you for giving me opportunity to serve the people of the State, which I did all through with commitment, dedication and sincerity".
Mr Adhikari also asked that steps be taken for the "immediate acceptance" of his resignation.
Elected from Bengal's Nandigram constituency, Suvendu Adhikari has, for the past months, skipped party and cabinet meetings and attended rallies without Trinamool banners or portraits of Ms Banerjee.
A senior Trinamool leader was quoted by news agency PTI as saying: "A war of nerves has begun between the leadership and Mr Adhikari".
Mr Adhikari's main grouse is the increasing prominence of Ms Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, the MP from Diamond Harbour. Last week, amid speculation over his next move, Mr Adhikari seemed to take a swipe at his rival, calling himself a "24x7 politician and not a seasonal bird".
Over the past two weeks the Trinamool made some efforts to reach out. At least two meetings were held in Kolktata, but neither afforded a breakthrough.
Mr Adhikari was also unhappy at the Trinamool's growing reliance on poll strategist Prashant Kishor.
Mr Kishor travelled 150 km from Kolkata to meet him at his home at Kanthi in East Midnapore district earlier this month. However, Mr Adhikari was not at home and did not return till after Prashant Kishor headed back to Kolkata.
Sources have said Mr Adhikari may reconsider his decision to quit if he gets more organisational control than Abhishek Banerjee. However, the same sources say such a move is unlikely.
Another senior Trinamool leader - Saugata Roy, who has been tasked with retaining Mr Adhikari's services - this week stressed that Mr Adhikari remained a key member of the party.
"You should have seen his procession... he would not do anything against the party. He is very much with the party," he said, referring to a march in the Nandigram area of East Midnapore district.
Mr Adhikari, apart from East Midnapore (from where he hails) influences between 35 and 40 assembly constituencies that fall in the tribal Jangalmahal area and parts of Birbhum district.
With input from PTI
