By Online Desk
Adding to the list of dramatic TMC defections ahead of assembly elections in Bengal, Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi announced his resignation in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
He attributed rampant violence in West Bengal and suffocation in the party that is ‘no longer under Mamata Banerjee’s control’ as reasons for his decision to resign, leaving the party managers flustered.
In his final address, he stated increasing ‘political violence’ as the reason for his exit.
“If you sit here quietly and cannot do anything, then it is better that you resign from here and go to the land of Bengal and be with people,” he said in the Upper House of Parliament.
Trivedi said the world looks at India when something happens.
“What I mean to say is the way violence is taking place in our state. Sitting here, I am feeling perplexed as to what should I do,” he added.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP said he is unable to bear various incidents that are happening in West Bengal.
Soon after getting up to speak during the debate on the Budget, Trivedi said: “There are limitations here. My party has sent me here, so I am grateful. But now I can’t take what is happening any more. I am feeling suffocated. That’s why I want to resign from here.
I want to work for my Bengal,” the former railway minister said. The BJP was quick to welcome him, if he wanted to make the switch. Criticising the violence, Trivedi said: “I am from the land of Subhas Chandra Bose. My soul is saying I sit here and say nothing, what is the point?”
“I am grateful to my party that it has sent me here, but now I feel a little suffocated. We are unable to do anything and there is atrocity (going on).
My voice of conscience is saying what Swami Vivekananda used to say — arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached,” Trivedi said, while announcing his resignation from the House.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said there is a due process for resigning from the House and asked Trivedi to submit his resignation in writing to the chairman.
(With ENS, PTI inputs)
