Srinjoy Bose quits TMC, Rajya Sabha

Party sees larger conspiracy behind move; BJP must have forced him, say leaders

A day after getting bail in the Saradha chit fund scam, Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP and prominent businessman Srinjoy Bose announced that he would quit the party and the Upper House. 

His resignation brought Bengal’s ruling party in a huddle, though Trinamool leaders alleged “larger conspiracy” behind Bose’s move. 

The MP, the eldest son of prominent Kolkata businessman Swapan Sadhan Bose, said in a statement that he was under pressure from his family to quit, particularly from his mother and wife. 

Bose’s family has interests in shipping and bulk cargo handling and also owns the leading Bengali daily Sangbad Pratidin. 

“I would like to inform that I have resigned from the membership of Rajya Sabha with immediate effect. I have also decided to resign from the primary membership of my party the Trinamool Congress,” Bose said in the statement. 

“During my days in custody I had finally realised that politics is not my cup of tea… I am thankful to my Didi, Smt Mamata Banerjee that she thought me capable enough to make me an MP,” he added. 

Trinamool insiders admit Bose’s resignation is a setback for the party, as his family is said to be a major benefactor of Mamata Banerjee and the party. 

A senior Trinamool leader, who hinted at a conspiracy, said: “The BJP must have put pressure on him. Yesterday (Wednesday) he got bail and he quit the Trinamool today. There must be something more to it.”

“Things are never that simple. His resignation will definitely have an impact on the party’s funds,” he noted further. Trinamool national spokesperson Derek O’Brien confirmed to reporters that Srinjoy Bose has resigned. 

“It is Srinjoy’s personal choice. It is his prerogative. It is his democratic right. We have been saying for some time now that he has been put under tremendous pressure by the party in power at the Centre. He was released on bail (Wednesday). He resigned (Thursday). We are happy that he got ‘freedom’ yesterday,” O’Brien said in a statement on party website. 

O’Brien, also Trinamool’s chief whip in Rajya Sabha, further said the seat will be filled by a candidate from his party. “We will soon announce the name of a party member who will then become a member of the Rajya Sabha,” he said. 

Bose’s exit from the Trinamool triggered rumours that he has struck a deal with the BJP, though neither the saffron party nor the resigned MP had any comments on them. 

However, the rumours got stronger when BJP state unit president Rahul Sinha came out in Bose’s support. “It’s the right decision at the right time,” Sinha told reporters.

“Srinjoy Bose had so much money he should not have been named in the scam. It is because of the party he is entangled with. He was branded a thief staying with a party of thieves, which he quit,” he said.