TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Quits Party, Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from both the Upper House of Parliament and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, citing the party’s crushing defeat in West Bengal’s recent Assembly elections. In his resignation letter, Ray accused the TMC of ‘15-year anarchical rule,’ blaming widespread corruption, gender-based atrocities, and failures in healthcare, education, industry, law and order, and employment for the electoral setback. He described the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a historic mandate to end TMC governance. Ray’s move follows a broader internal crisis within the TMC, with reports suggesting up to 20 Lok Sabha MPs may defect from the party. The resignation comes after expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee formed a rebel faction in the Assembly, securing support from 58 lawmakers and becoming Leader of Opposition. Banerjee’s faction has openly criticized TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, holding him responsible for the party’s poor electoral performance. The newly elected BJP government has begun implementing its election manifesto, focusing on West Bengal’s development and reconstruction, according to Ray’s letter. His resignation underscores growing divisions within the TMC, raising questions about the party’s future stability ahead of future elections. Ray’s departure marks the latest fallout from the Assembly results, where the BJP secured a majority for the first time in West Bengal’s history. The TMC’s leadership faces mounting pressure as internal dissent and public dissatisfaction continue to erode its political standing.