In another blow to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, TMC's Rajib Banerjee has resigned from his office as Forest Minister on Friday, ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly election. Rajib Banerjee was in charge of the forest department in the Bengal government.
The minister is expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In his resignation letter, Rajib writes, "It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of West Bengal. I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity."
Apart from the resignation letter, Rajib Banerjee on Friday shared this information on a Facebook post. He wrote, “Hope you all are doing well. This is to inform you that I am resigning as the Minister in Charge, Department of Forest, West Bengal from today. Over the years I have tried to do my duty with full responsibility and diligence."
“I have considered each one of you as my extended family and your support has always motivated me to go the extra mile and be at your service in a better way possible, hence I am announcing my formal resignation on this platform and have informed the concerned authority as well. I hope that in the years to come I will be able to be at each of your services in the best way possible as that has been the sole reason I am into politics.” he posted this in a Facebook post along with the resignation letter.
In the resignation letter to the Chief Minister, he did not mention the reason behind his decision.
Rajib Banerjee joined the league of those leaders who have resigned from the TMC government within months.
Several senior ministers have resigned from TMC and joined BJP. Former Transport Minister in the TMC government, Suvendu Adhikari, MLAs -- Shilbhadra Dutta and Banasri Maity and Bengal sports minister Ratan Shukla have left the party.
Elections for 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal are slated to take place later this year.