Fresh Trouble for Mamata: Rajib Banerjee Latest to Quit WB Cabinet

Banerjee’s resignation comes as another setback to TMC, which has seen multiple exits ahead of the Assembly polls.

West Bengal Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Amid a string of exits from the Trinamool Congress party (TMC), West Bengal Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee has resigned from his office as Cabinet minister. His resignation has been accepted by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, ANI reported.

According to ANI, following his resignation, Banerjee said that no one knows what will happen in the future. He also added that for now, he is a party worker, and so he will continue to behave as one.

“I don’t believe in predictions. No one knows about the future. Till today, I am a party worker and I will continue to do that.”

Rajib Banerjee

According to PTI, Banerjee, after resigning, had also said that he “was hurt when I was personally attacked, hence quit forest minister's post.”

“It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of West Bengal. I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

“I have considered each one of you as my extended family and your support has always motivated me to go the extra mile and be at your service in a better way possible, hence I am announcing my formal resignation on this platform and have informed the concerned authority as well. I hope that in the years to come I will be able to be at each of your service in the best way possible as that has been the sole reason I am into politics,” Banerjee further wrote on his Facebook page.

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According to PTI, Banerjee had earlier expressed his grievances about some ruling TMC leaders. In a video that had gone viral earlier, the Donjur MLA was heard saying, “There are some leaders, who are using the workers for their benefits and are treating them as their servants. There are several such leaders.”

He had also reportedly claimed that those who keep the leadership “in good humour” are brought to the forefront of the party, while hard workers are sent to the back.

Banerjee’s resignation comes as another setback to CM Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, which has seen multiple exits ahead of the state Assembly polls, led by former party heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, who quit TMC and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 19 December. He was followed by a number of party functionaries, and since his exit, a number of prominent TMC leaders have resigned from the party.

MLA Baishali Dalmiya Expelled From TMC

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, on Friday, expelled MLA Baishali Dalmiya from the party.

Reacting to the news of her expulsion, Dalmiya, according to ANI, said that she got the information of her expulsion from the news channels, and that she had not received anything in writing.

“I haven’t received anything in writing about my expulsion. I got the information through news channels. I didn’t understand party’s operating system. I had joined politics to serve public and I will continue to do so.”

Baishali Dalmiya

PTI quoted sources as saying that the decision was taken due to supposedly ‘anti-party activities’ that she had allegedly indulged in. This comes after the legislator spoke against the party and claimed there is no place for "honest and sincere people in the party".

TMC announced its disciplinary committee’s decision to expel her from the party in a statement.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)