Trinamool MP Dinesh Trivedi resigns from Rajya Sabha citing 'violence' in Bengal

File image: Dinesh Trivedi

Trinamool Congress' Member of Parliament (MP) Dinesh Trivedi announced his resignation from the Rajya Sabha on February 12.

Trivedi, considered a close confidant of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had served as the Minister for Railways in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) II government. He is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to sources.

His resignation came just ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections in Bengal. The BJP is projecting itself as an alternative to the TMC, which under Mamata Banerjee's leadership has governed the state since 2011. The polls are likely to happen in April-May.

“I am resigning from Rajya Sabha today. There is violence happening in my state. We cannot speak anything here,” Trivedi said in Upper House.

I am resigning from Rajya Sabha today. There is violence happening in my state. We cannot speak anything here: TMC Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi pic.twitter.com/6xvEYtciwF

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— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2021

Trivedi said he felt suffocated as he was not able to do anything over the recent incidents of violence in Bengal.

“Grateful to my party (TMC) that they've sent me here. I'm feeling suffocated that we're not able to do anything over violence in the state. My soul tells me that if you can't do anything sitting here, then you must resign. I will continue to work for the people of West Bengal,” he said.

In recent months, multiple senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress -- including state minister Suvendu Adhikari -- have left the party to join the BJP.