In yet another jolt for the TMC dispensation, ahead of the assembly polls, Bengal forest minister Rajib Banerjee on Friday quit the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, citing personal attacks aimed at him for airing grievances against a section of party leaders as the reason.
He said he was "deeply hurt" by the actions of some of the party members but declined to comment when asked if he plans to quit the party in the days to come.
"I had grievances against some of the party's senior members and informed the leadership about it. I also had a word with party supremo, but nothing happened. Instead, I was personally attacked by a section of the leaders.
"I was deeply hurt by the personal attacks aimed at me. Hence, I resigned from the cabinet," he told reporters after meeting Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhavan.
The Domjur legislator said earlier, too, he had decided to quit the state cabinet, when removed as the irrigation minister without any notice, but Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stopped him from doing so back then.
He, however, thanked the chief minister profusely, and said that he would always remain "indebted to her for allowing him to serve the people of the state".
In the letter submitted to the chief minister this morning, he tendered his resignation.
"It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of Bengal. I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity," he wrote in the letter.
The Domjur MLA, who had been airing his grievances against a section of ruling party leaders over the past few weeks, joins the string of TMC leaders and legislators who recently quit the Mamata Banerjee camp.
Most of them, including his former cabinet colleague Suvendu Adhikari, have switched over to the BJP.
Banerjee also said that a copy of the resignation letter has been forwarded to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for "necessary action."