Swapan Dasgupta resigns from Rajya Sabha to fight Bengal polls

Rajya Sabha nominated MP Swapan Dasgupta sent in his resignation from the Upper House after a row erupted over the BJP announcing his candidature for the West Bengal Assembly elections.

"I have resigned from the Rajya Sabha today to commit myself totally to the fight for a better Bengal. I hope to file my nomination as BJP candidate for the Tarakeshwar Assembly seat in the next few days," 65-year-old Dasgupta tweeted.

Sources said Dasgupta, a journalist who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April 2016, has sent in his resignation requesting Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to take note of his letter with effect from Wednesday.

BJP on Sunday announced that Dasgupta will contest from Tarakeswar Assembly seat in Hooghly district.

His candidature ran into a controversy after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra pointed out that he should be disqualified as he has not joined the BJP within six months of his nomination into the Rajya Sabha.

According to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a nominated member of a House shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat.

Citing this provision, Moitra on Monday said that Dasgupta should be disqualified for "joining BJP" after the expiry of six months, if he files nomination as a BJP candidate.

As the news of Dasgupta's resignation flashed, Moitra tweeted, "Thank you, Sir. We wish you well for the upcoming West Bengal polls."

Congress Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh also had earlier sought clarification from Naidu about Dasgupta contesting in polls, saying he has neither resigned before contesting election nor has he joined any party.