In another setback to Mamata’s party, MLA and minister Laxmi Ratan Shukla has resigned from Trinamool Congress party as Minister of State for Sports. This comes after several Trinamool leaders joined BJP, with the election to the legislative assembly just months away.
In an event today, Ms Banerjee said, "I have received his resignation letter. Laxmi is a good boy and he wants to return to sports. There is no misunderstanding... He will continue as MLA till the election and I have recommended to the governor that his resignation should be accepted.”
Mr Shukla is MLA of Howrah (Uttar) constituency and former captain of the Bengal Ranji team.
In his letter to Ms Banerjee, the former cricketer said he wants to "retire" from politics. Mr Shukla had joined the Trinamool party before the last state election in 2016 and won.
Trinamool’s troubles started with the exit of her longtime colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP. Thus, BJP is the biggest competitor for Ms Banerjee and her party in the upcoming elections.
Home Minister Amit Shah had said, "Didi would be left alone by the time polls come".
Suvendu Adhikari's youngest brother, too, had switched sides and joined the BJP. Soumendu Adhikari was a councillor and chairperson of a municipality in East Midnapore district. At least a dozen other party leaders have joined the BJP with him last week.
Therefore, local leaders floating and joining the BJP, Trinamool is priming itself to replace in this year's West Bengal election.
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At the launch of the Trinamool's election campaign last month, Ms Banerjee had said leaders who have left the party at a critical time did so because they gained profits from the party's success but could not remain loyal.
Ms Banerjee had said that her party will stand and deliver what has been promised to people. “After profiting from the party for 10 years, after profiting from being part of the government, to hobnob with this and that party... I will not tolerate such people, she added.”