PM Modi, Amit Shah friends, nothing wrong in joining BJP: Dinesh Trivedi says in TV interview

He added that there is nothing wrong if he joins the BJP in near future.

Speaking to NDTV after tendering his resignation as the Rajya Sabha MP, the senior politician said: "Dinesh Trivedi does not need to wait for an invitation. They are all friends, not from now. The Prime Minister is a great friend. Amitbhai (Amit Shah) is a great friend for many, many years. I could have gone…I could have just walked in. And there is nothing wrong. Tomorrow if I join the BJP, there is nothing wrong in it."

Not denying the speculations of him being welcomed to BJP, Trivedi said: "If they (BJP) are welcoming me, which I heard, I am grateful to them. If everywhere people have accepted them, then they are doing something right for the country."

Surprising his party colleagues, Trivedi on Friday announced resignation from Parliament's upper house Rajya Sabha.

Addressing the house, Trivedi said, "Often moments come in life when we listen to our soul. I am witnessing the way violence is taking place in West Bengal. So I am resigning as the Rajya Sabha member listening to my soul."

Earlier in the day, Trivedi alleged in media statements that the Trinamool Congress is overrun by "corporates", his indication being poll strategist Prashant Kishor and his outfit I-PAC, recruited by Mamata Banerjee to manage her election campaign.

"We formed the party (Trinamool) together. Mamata Banerjee, Ajit Panja, Mukul Roy, myself. That was the soul of the party. We even struggled for 5,000 to 7,000 to 10,000 to buy a ticket to go to Delhi. Today that soul, that aatma is gone. If you give 100 crores to a consultant…On one hand you say you are a poor party and on the other, you give hundreds of crores to a consultant," he was quoted in media reports.

Trivedi, a former Railway Minister, had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as a Trinamool candidate from West Bengal's Barrackpore.

Later, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Getting caught off-guard, Trinamool MP Saugata Roy said, "This is unfortunate. He had expressed his displeasure but never thought he would quit."

Reacting to the development, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said, "No honest, idealistic man can stay in the Trinamool... No one can work under Pishi-Bhaipo (Mamata Banerjee-Abhishek Banerjee)."

This is the latest resignation by any Trinamool member just days ahead of the announcement of the West Bengal elections.

Barely a few weeks ago, Trinamool heavyweights Suvendu Adhikari, Rajib Banerjee and several others joined the opposition camp Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).