Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and longtime aide to Mamata Banerjee, resigned from the party and his parliamentary seat Monday [1, 2, 3].

The resignation represents a significant political blow to Banerjee because Ray was a trusted inner-circle member of the administration. His departure signals internal instability within the party following his public criticism of the current leadership.

Ray submitted his resignation upon arriving at Parliament in New Delhi [1]. He said widespread corruption and atrocities against women were the primary drivers for his decision to leave the party [1, 2].

In his critique, Ray targeted the 15-year rule [2] of Mamata Banerjee. He said the administration had failed the people of West Bengal during this tenure. Ray also praised initiatives taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party following its victory in the state [1, 2].

Reports on the resignation vary slightly regarding the scope of his departure. Some sources state he resigned both from the party and his seat in the Rajya Sabha [2], while others focus on his exit from the Trinamool Congress [3].

Ray's departure is being described as a major political shake-up [2]. As a senior figure in the upper house, his exit removes a key legislative voice for the party in the national capital.

“Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from the party and his parliamentary seat Monday.”

The resignation of a high-ranking aide like Ray suggests a deepening rift between the Trinamool Congress leadership and its senior members. By explicitly praising the BJP and criticizing the state's governance, Ray's exit may encourage other dissidents within the party to voice similar grievances, potentially weakening the party's cohesion in West Bengal.