In a third jolt to the Trinamul Congress within 24 hours, Barrackpore MLA Shilbhadra Dutta resigned from the party on Friday.

Dutta, a two-term MLA, said he has sent the resignation letter to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee by email, triggering speculations that he may join a long list of party leaders who have either joined the BJP or is willing to, ahead of the assembly elections, likely in March-April.

“I think that I am unfit in the party in the present scenario. But, I will not resign as an MLA,” he told reporters.

“Why should I resign as an MLA? I have won by people's votes. If I go (resign) away, where will they go,” he added.

The move comes within a day after party heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari left the TMC, and following his suit, Pandabeswar MLA and Asansol civic body chief Jitendra Tiwari resigned too.

While all the rebel leaders are speculated to be joining the BJP, Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Bengal for two days. The minister will arrive in Calcutta on Friday night to take stock of the BJP's affairs in the state as the assembly elections draw near.

Shah, after staying the night at a Calcutta hotel, will meet NIA officials the next morning.

“On Saturday morning, he has a scheduled meeting with NIA officials. Then he will visit Swami Vivekanada's residence in north Calcutta to pay tributes,” a BJP leader said.

“Later, Shah will travel to Midnapore where he will pay tributes to revolutionary Khudiram Bose and offer puja at two temples,” he said.

After this, he will visit a farmer's home for lunch, followed by a public rally at the Midnapore College ground.

“There are chances that several TMC leaders will join the party at this rally. After the rally, he will return to Calcutta and hold meetings with state leaders and take stock of the organisation,” the saffron party leader said.

On Sunday, the home minister will visit the Visva- Bharati university in Shantiniketan, and lead a roadshow at Bolpur. Thereafter, he will hold a press conference and leave for Delhi.

Shah’s visit comes in the backdrop of growing animosity between the Centre and the state with the Home Ministry asking the West Bengal government to immediately relieve its three IPS officers for central deputation, provoking a combative Mamata Banerjee to brand the move as “unconstitutional and unacceptable”.

Bengal Assembly dismisses Suvendu’s resignation

Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Friday said he has not accepted the resignation of Trinamul Congress MLA Suvendu Adhikari’s resignation. He said that it does not conform to the provisions of the Constitution and the rules of the House.

Banerjee also noted that the senior TMC leader did not hand over the resignation letter to him personally.

The speaker further added that he had no clue if the “resignation is voluntary and genuine”.

“Unless and until I am satisfied that the resignation is voluntary and genuine, it is not possible for me to accept the same in the light of the provisions of the Constitution of India and the rules of procedure and conduct of business in West Bengal Legislative Assembly,” the Speaker told reporters.

Adhikari submitted his resignation letter as an MLA at the Assembly secretariat on December 16, a month after he quit the Mamata Banerjee cabinet as minister. The Speaker was not present in the House at that time.

Banerjee further said that Adhikari has been asked to appear before him personally in his chamber on December 21 to make his submission in the matter.

“I do hereby tender my resignation from the member (sic) of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Steps may be taken for its immediate acceptance,” wrote Adhikari in the letter.