Kolkata: In a significant political development, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the Upper House on Monday, with nearly three years of his term remaining. A vocal critic of the TMC leadership, Ray also severed all ties with the party by quitting its primary membership. Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan accepted the resignation and declared the seat vacant.
Another TMC MP Likely to Follow
Another TMC Rajya Sabha MP, actor Koel Mallick, is also expected to resign after seeking an appointment with the Rajya Sabha chairperson. However, she did not speak to the media regarding her political future or respond to text messages from TOI.
Ray's Allegations Against TMC Leadership
Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Ray launched a scathing attack on the TMC leadership over unchecked corruption and its handling of the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case. He accused police officials of tampering with evidence to shield the culprits. "I was sidelined in the party for a long time, though I participated in protests against the crime," Ray said. "Elected members did not have their feet on the ground. Touts, dacoits and rapists came to the fore, while the real worker was forced to step back."
Ray's Critique of TMC's Governance
Ray claimed that the people of Bengal had "rejected TMC's rampant corruption, extreme oppression of women and its utter failure, alongside the severe anarchy prevailing across sectors, including education, healthcare, industry, employment and law and order." He described the RG Kar movement as not just about a single incident but a warning signal for democracy.
Ray also noted that for the first time in Bengal's history, voters had given the BJP a massive victory in terms of seats. "The newly elected government has started working to implement multiple programmes for Bengal's development and reconstruction, in line with its election promises," he added. He dismissed the INDIA bloc meeting as an effort to "pull themselves out of a hole" and predicted it would lead to nothing.
Ray's Political Background
A former Congress leader who shared close ties with late President Pranab Mukherjee, the 77-year-old Ray joined TMC and had served in the Rajya Sabha since 2011. Known for his parliamentary experience, he functioned as the party's deputy leader in the Upper House until 2019 and remained its chief whip until 2024.
Reaction from TMC Loyalists
An MP loyal to the Mamata Banerjee camp commented: "We may have differences with him (Ray), but he has done the right thing by resigning. He is now free to speak out. This should be a lesson to all those detractors who, after being elected on a Trinamool Congress symbol using Mamata Banerjee's face, choose to attack her once the polls were over."
Ray's resignation comes on the same day that TMC's Lok Sabha MPs split to form a rebel bloc, indicating deepening fissures within the party.
