A Trinamul leader in South Dinajpur has resigned as mentor of the zilla parishad in the district after a video clip surfaced on social media where he was seen speaking about “cuts” that some party leaders need to be paid to get a rural project through the tender process.

Subhasish Pal, widely known as Sona Pal in the district, was forced to step down after this video surfaced on Tuesday, leaving the Trinamul leadership red-faced.

Arpita Ghosh, district Trinamul chief and Rajya Sabha MP, asserted Pal would have to prove that the allegations against the party are baseless.

“Unless he comes in the clear, he won’t hold any post. He has resigned on the party’s orders and will be served a showcause soon,” said Ghosh.

Pal tried to put on a brave face. “It is not the entire video but only a part of it that got circulated on social media. Some people are trying to malign me. I want a complete probe. But as allegations have been raised against me, I felt it necessary to step down as mentor,” he said.

A new mentor will be appointed within a week, said a Trinamul source.

Referring to the video, BJP MP of Balurghat in South Dinajpur Sukanta Majumdar said Pal said that be it for midday meal in schools or toilet construction, “many Trinamul leaders have to be paid cuts of 5-6 per cent of project cost”. “This (video) has exposed the corruption within Trinamul.”