One-Way Traffic In TMC, Had Been Thinking Of Resigning Since RG Kar—Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Tells Theprint

TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Resigns Amid Party Turmoil

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray has become the first Rajya Sabha MP from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to resign, amid growing speculation that others might follow suit after the party's recent electoral setback in West Bengal. With 12 Rajya Sabha MPs and a Lok Sabha strength of 28, the party is facing internal unrest as it grapples with the fallout from its defeat last month.

On Monday morning, approximately 20 Lok Sabha MPs from TMC convened with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, a meeting that also included West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. When questioned about the potential for further resignations from the party, Ray stated, “The possibility cannot be ruled out.”

The TMC has been plagued by dissent since its electoral loss, with around two dozen of its 80 MLAs voicing rebellion and supporting Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition, a position that Mamata Banerjee had assigned to Sovandeb Chattopadhyay. While Ray’s departure marks a significant moment, TMC Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has only stepped down from her primary party role without resigning from the party itself.

Ray criticized TMC leadership for failing to acknowledge the electorate's sentiments. He remarked, “The people of the state had voted against TMC and its corruption. Corruption in the party has crossed all limits. Instead of looking within and going for course correction, the party leader is crying wolf.” Following the election results, Ray expected a thorough evaluation of the party’s performance during a meeting called by Mamata Banerjee, but he was disappointed by the lack of introspection. “In that meeting also, no one was allowed to speak,” he said, adding, “What was the point of calling all of us to the meeting then?”

Ray has been contemplating his resignation since the RG Kar incident in August 2024. He clarified, “I did not decide to quit in a huff. I have been thinking about it since the RG Kar incident. The rot in the party has crossed all limits.” He also noted that he was the first TMC MP to publicly protest against that incident, saying, “Without holding any party banner, or uttering anybody's name, I sat in protest against what had happened. In return, I was marginalized in the party.”