Trinamool Congress leader Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the membership of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Wednesday amid indications that he would join the BJP during Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state on December 19-20.
Adhikari, MLA from Nandigram, submitted his handwritten resignation to Speaker of the Assembly Biman Banerjee.
There have been speculations about the next political move of Adhikari amid rumours that he may join the BJP.
Adhikari had been at odds with the TMC leadership for a while and had distanced himself from party activities.
The TMC did make efforts to placate the senior leader. However, with Adhikari not willing to budge from his stand, the TMC leadership had given up on the rapproachment efforts and called it a “closed chapter”.
According to a top BJP leader, Adhikari is scheduled to visit Delhi Thursday and likely to join the BJP there, following which he is expected to address a mass meeting in West Midnapore district in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“He may also join in the public meeting that will be addressed by Amit Shahji on 19 December in the district,” the top BJP leader said. “The district also comes under his (Adhikari’s) area of operation and we are expecting a huge gathering there. We are still working with him on the schedule.”
Adhikari had helped Mamata Banerjee in her anti- land acquisition movemnent against the Left Front government in Nandigram in 2009 that catapulted her to power in 2011.
After the efforts of rapprochement failed, Adhikari, without naming anyone, has criticised the TMC leadership on a range of issues.