KOLKATA:In yet another major blow to the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose on Thursday quit the party and the RS a day after he was released on conditional bail over his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Saradha scam, and speculation is rife that he may join the BJP.
In a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Srinjoy tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the TMC and also stated that he would resign from the Rajya Sabha.
Srinjoy stated that during the 75 days he had spent in CBI custody and jail, though he was for most of the time in SSKM Hospital, he realised, “politics is not my cup of tea”. He also said that he was under pressure from his mother and wife, who did not want him to continue in politics.
Immediately after he was granted bail by the Alipore court here on Wednesday, Srinjoy, who is also editor of a Bengali daily Sangbad Pratidin, was admitted to a private nursing home. The RS MP had been arrested by the CBI on November 21, and he was charged with breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy over his involvement in the Saradha scam.
Meanwhile, reiterating the BJP stand that it would not admit any person tainted in the Saradha scam, West Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha said, “There is no question of taking Srinjoy till he is exonerated from the scam.
The amount in question for which he has been accused of is a sum which he can easily donate, as he is quite rich.
“The manner in which he quit the party as well as the Rajya Sabha is timely and justified and we welcome it. Bad company led to his destruction. We welcome others in the TMC, who have not looted Saradha funds, to leave the party to lead a healthy political life,” he remarked.
TMC chief whip in the Rajya Sabha and national spokesperson Derek O’Brien went into damage control mode stating, “It is Srinjoy’s personal choice. It is his prerogative.