TMC faces resignation wave in Mirik

DARJEELING, : In a major setback to the TMC (Hills), party chairman L.B. Rai on Monday resigned from his post, stating that all committees of the political outfit in Mirik had also been dissolved and that party members there had resigned collectively.

The development comes in the wake of the BJP forming the government in Bengal, bringing an end to TMC rule.

Addressing a press conference in Mirik, Rai said, “The type of defeat the TMC has faced in the recent Vidhan Sabha polls, we have decided to accept it. I also welcome the decision taken by our party members in Mirik to resign together, along with me stepping down from the post of party chairman. We will be sending our resignation letter to our higher-ups in Kolkata along with our party president here, Shanta Chettri.”

Rai, who also heads the Mirik Municipality, appealed to those who resigned to maintain peace, adding that their future course of action would be announced later.

Others present at the press conference said the decision had been taken after discussions among party members. They added that the Mirik Sub-Divisional Committee of the party, along with its various units including the block committee, trade union and youth front, had also been dissolved. They further stated that they had decided to remain neutral.

In his resignation letter to TMC (Darjeeling and Kalimpong district) president Shanta Chettri, Rai cited the “recent election defeat” as the reason for stepping down, saying he believed it was “an appropriate decision at this time.”

Political observers feel the development in Mirik, especially with Rai being a prominent face of the party in the Hills, could trigger a mass exodus of members.