JOIN USA day after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ministers resigned from the Union Cabinet, Congress ministers in the state submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening.
Six Congress ministers in the West Bengal Cabinet—Manas Bhuniya, Abu Hena, Sabina Yasmin, Abu Naser Khan Chowdhury, Promotho Nath Roy and Sunil Tirkey—submitted their resignations to Banerjee at the Writers’ Building at 5 pm.
Speaking to reporters, Bhuniya said: “The Trinamool Congress ministers submitted their resignation to the prime minister yesterday (Friday). So, following directions from the high command, we have submitted our resignation today (Saturday).”
Describing Mamata Banerjee as a “colourful character,” Bhuniya said: “We will continue to work for the people. And if the common man’s interests are hampered, we will definitely initiate a movement against this government.”
The former ministers, along with state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya and Congress legislative party leader Md Shorab, met Governor M K Narayanan and formally conveyed their decision to withdraw support to the Trinamool Congress government.
Earlier, Mamata Banerjee, in a veiled attack on the Congress, said she “will never bow to those who showed arrogance of power. Maa, maati, manush (people, land mother) are the assets of our democracy. I will bow before them, but I will never give in to those who are displaying arrogance of power,” she said. “There is no use threatening us, for we also can strike back.”
Referring to a folklore on Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekenanda, Mamata said, “I can always hiss if I can't bite.”
Withdrawal of support by the Congress will not impact the 16-month-old TMC government, as Mamata’s party enjoys a comfortable majority in the 294-seat state Assembly.