KOLKATA: Former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia quit Trinamool Congress on Monday morning.
Announcing his decision on Twitter, the legendary striker wrote: “As of today, I have officially resigned from the membership and all the official and political posts of All India Trinamool Congress party. I am no longer a member or associated with any political party in India.”
There has been no reaction from the Trinamool Congress to the resignation yet. A member of TMC since 2013, Bhutia had fought the 2016 Assembly elections from Siliguri but lost to CPM veteran Ashok Bhattacharya by a margin of 14,072 votes.
However, Bhutia went against the party’s official line on Gorkhaland by supporting the statehood movement during last year’s 104-day-long agitation. His resignation comes closely after West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee accused Bhutia’s native state Sikkim of fomenting trouble in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal.
While absconding Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung was speculated to be hiding in the Himalayan state, Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling had written to home minister Rajnath Singh supporting Gorkhaland statehood movement.
However, since his announcement of resignation, Bhutia has switched off his phone and has not explained the reason behind his resignation.
The legendary footballer had of late dedicated more time in imparting football training to youngsters at his Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in New Delhi, where he had also offered to train reformed Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Majid Khan in November last year after the Anantnag footballer gave up arms in response to his mother’s call to return home.