'Feeling suffocated in TMC', MP Dinesh Trivedi resigns from Rajya Sabha, hails PM

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 12

Ahead of the West Bengal elections, the ruling TMC on Friday suffered a huge jolt with senior MP and former railway minister Dinesh Trivedi announcing his resignation from the Rajya Sabha citing “suffocation in the Mamata Banerjee-led party”.

Trivedi took the Upper House by surprise as he announced his resignation when he got up to speak on the Union Budget.

Trivedi said he was resigning “heeding the voice of his conscience”.

“There comes a time in the life of every man when he heeds the voice of his conscience. We enter politics for the country. Two days ago, we saw the PM and Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad exchange emotional greetings. That was all about their love for the country,” Trivedi said.

He said even when he was the railway minister during the UPA government he had heeded the voice of his conscience and announced a budget that offended Mamata but one that was in national interest.

“When I was the railway minister I had a similar predicament as to who is bigger: myself, the party or the nation. Even today the world is watching us. The world was looking at the Indian response to Covid and the Prime Minister led this fight successfully,” Trivedi said hailing Narednra Modi’s leadership.

He said he was now unable to tolerate the way violence was occurring in Bengal.

“I feel very restive sitting here in this House while Bengal is in the grip of violence. We hail from the land of Subhas Chandra Bose and Khudi Ram Bose and love for the motherland is supreme in our hearts. So rather than regretting sitting here I have decided to resign from my membership of the Rajya Sabha, go back and serve Bengal,” said the senior TMC leader.

He said MPs entered politics to serve the motherland.

“I can no longer condone what’s happening in the TMC where I am bound by party discipline. I feel helpless and suffocated. My conscience says it is best to resign,” said Trivedi signalling possibility of joining the BJP.

BJP Bengal in-charge general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya was quick to welcome Trivedi’s move, saying Trivedi was welcome to join the BJP in case he wanted to do so.

Vijayvargiya said many more TMC leaders were feeling claustrophobic in the Mamata-led “dynastic dispensation”.

Party was unaware if Trivedi had issues, his resignation not a setback: TMC

Meanwhile, TMC’s official spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Gupta said Dinesh Trivedi did not discuss the issues plaguing him with Chief Minister Banerjee before his resignation.

Gupta also said Trivedi’s resignation was not a setback for the TMC and will not affect the party’s poll campaign in the state.

“We are all trying to speak to him but instead he is busy talking to others. This is the first time that we have heard that he is feeling suffocated or claustrophobic or he is affected by the violence,” Gupta said.

“In his constituency which is Barrackpore from where he lost the last election, it is BJP’s Arjun Singh who won. So, if he is really affected by the violence then is his indication towards the violence perpetrated by the BJP?” Gupta said while addressing a press briefing.

The leader further said from 2010-2019, violence, especially political violence was absent from the state.

“By nature we Bengalis are peace loving. We believe in fighting with brains and not physically. We have no tradition of wrestling or contact sports. We are into arts culture and we have a creative spirit. We are shocked at Dinesh Trivedi’s statement.

“He is one of the founder members of the party, a four-time RS member and (former) railway minister. Mamata Banerjee has given him respect… Last year, after he lost the election, he was nominated as Rajya Sabha member by the party. So I don’t think he has any reason to be upset with the party,” he said.

Gupta also said maybe during the last year when people had to wear masks, Trivedi had found a “more suitable mask”.

“His resignation is not a setback for the party, maybe personal loss for people like me who have worked closely with him or have learnt from him. Our campaign will go on as usual. Someone else will take his place,” he said.

Gupta further said, “I do not think he has discussed his issues or resignation with (Mamata) didi. Before taking such a stand he should have discussed with the party leader. Maybe he was driven by some other agenda or he took an emotional decision”. — with PTI