Rebel Trinamool Congress leader Rajib Banerjee resigns as Bengal Minister

He was the Forest Minister in the Mamata Banerjee government.

Rajib, who is still in the Trinamool, has sent his resignation letter to Mamata Banerjee and also went to the Governor House as per protocol.

In several Facebook videos and independent rallies of late, the Domjur MLA from Howrah district was vocal against his party Trinamool.

"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," said Rajib in his Facebook post.

Over the last few weeks, Rajib has alleged genuine leaders in the Trinamool are not encouraged while people who only praise the top leadership are favoured in the party. 

Reacting to his resignation, Trinamool's new crisis manager, parliamentarian Saugata Roy said, "It was expected.... The top leaders of the party had reached out to him but he was not understanding anything. Instead of raising his issues in cabinet meetings which he had skipped, Rajib went to Facebook to voice his concerns.

"Facebook is a public platform. Why would he express his concerns on a public platform? But the party has been patient with him."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Dilip Ghosh responded to the development saying, "Though Rajib Banerjee has resigned as a cabinet minister, he is still an MLA and a TMC member. We can't say anything until he quits Trinamool.

"Rajib is a senior politician, will call him to join BJP to make a change in the state and to take part in building 'Sonar Bangla'."

Earlier, another MLA from Howrah, former Indian cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla had resigned as the Minister. 

Vaishali Dalmia, who is an MLA from the same district, has also vented out her anger in recent times. 

In Dec 2020, the ruling Trinamool received a jolt as its heavyweight leader Suvendu Adhikari jumped to the aggressive BJP just months ahead of the state elections due to be held in 2021 summer. 

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar has accepted his resignation.