TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi's resignation accepted; speculation rife about BJP switch

On Monday, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu accepted resignation of TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi from Upper House three days after he submitted it. In a suprising development on February 12, Trivedi anunced that he was stepping down while speaking on Budget in Rajya Sabha. Citing that he was suffocated in Mamata Banerjee-led party, former Railways Minister opined that he could t remain silent while West Bengal is witnessing political violence. 

A day earlier, TMC demanded an investigation into how Trivedi was allowed to speak during Budget discussion despite party t recommending his name. In current scenario, speculation is rife that Trivedi might join BJP. In an exclusive interview with Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, he opined that joining JP Nadda-led party will be a privilege. 

Speaking on this occasion, Dinesh Trivedi said, "Today my conscience triggered and I did what I wanted to do. Let today sink in and tomorrow come. If I join BJP, it would t be surprising as it is a national party. Today, Prime Minister has best im in world."

Read: TMC Says 't Affected' By RS MP Dinesh Trivedi's Exit; Says 'He Spoke To Pawar, t Us'

'Party has been outsourced' 

During his interaction with Arnab Goswami on February 12, Trivedi also expressed surprise at how a party which once struggled for finances was w able to pay political strategist in crores. Kishor's Indian Political Action Committee is working with Mamata Banerjee-led TMC to ensure re-election of party in Assembly election due in April-May this year. Claiming that party has been "outsourced", he also took a dig at Kishor who had predicted that BJP will struggle to win more than 99 seats in 294-member West Bengal Assembly. Citing this assertion, former Railways Minister stressed that his exit at this juncture could t be termed as opportunism. 

Dinesh Trivedi remarked, "It's been a 12 year struggle before we got power. And during time of this struggle, we formed this party. I was very much founder and we struggled for those 12 years. I remember we used to struggle for 5000-7000 rupees. And w you have hundreds of crores to give to a consultant. And you say that my party is poor. Those both things don't gel. party which you formed with some ideology is w being outsourced. It is virtually being hijacked and leadership and you yourself and party have gone somewhere else. So, soul of party is t re." 

Read: TMC Calls Dinesh Trivedi Ungrateful; Says 'would Win Elections Because Of Mamata's Im'