Kolkata, 04 July (H.S.): In a major setback for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress amid the party's ongoing internal turmoil, state president Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from her post on Saturday. In a letter to the party chief, she announced her decision to step down as the state president and sought to be relieved of all other responsibilities, including serving as an authorised signatory for the party's bank accounts and representing the party before the Election Commission.

Speculation over Bhattacharya's future in the party had intensified after her son, Saurabh Basu, recently joined the rebel Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. Following her resignation, Bhattacharya said she had no complaints against anyone but felt compelled to step down after questions were raised over her credibility. She, however, did not clarify whether she would continue in the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.

Asked whether she would reconsider her decision if Mamata Banerjee requested her to return, Bhattacharya replied, It is not a question of returning. Once your credibility comes under a cloud, you cannot go back to that position.

Reacting to the development, rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee said the party's old culture of intimidating leaders over minor issues had come to an end, and many no longer wished to remain associated with such a system. Senior TMC leader Shovandeb Chattopadhyay, meanwhile, said he had not yet seen Bhattacharya's resignation letter and therefore would not comment on the matter.

Bhattacharya has long been regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee's most trusted associates. She previously served as Minister of State handling key portfolios such as Finance and Health. Amid the recent split within the party, Mamata had appointed her as the TMC's state president on June 3. However, she resigned from the post within a month, making her exit one of the most significant developments in the party's ongoing political crisis.

Notably, the resignation came a day after the Ritabrata Banerjee faction took control of the party's state office. Reacting to the incident, Mamata Banerjee had remarked that they handed over the party office to them. Although she did not name anyone, her use of the phrase they was widely interpreted as an indirect reference to Chandrima Bhattacharya, further fuelling speculation that the remarks prompted her decision to resign.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh