Rebel Congress leader and counsel at Calcutta High Court Kaustav Bagchi announced his resignation from the party, today. He said that he has sent copies of his resignation letter to Congress’ national president Mallikarjun Kharge and the party state president in West Bengal Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
The differences between Bagchi and the Congress High Command had surfaced since the party leadership had been initiating alliance dialogues with Trinamul Congress president and chief minister Mamata Banerjee. A number of times, he had also been vocal, demanding immediate withdrawal from the process of alliance talks with West Bengal’s ruling party. He had also been vocal against high-profile lawyer-leaders in Congress namely Abhishek Manu Singhvi and P Chidambaram holding briefs at different courts on behalf of the West Bengal government and prominent Trinamul Congress leaders.
His decision to quit the party just before the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls has sparked speculation of him joining the BJP. However, Bagchi so far has not made anything clear about his next political move. In his resignation letter, he said that it was no longer possible for him to stick to the party at the cost of his self- respect.
“I shaved my head after I was arrested on baseless charges in the wee hours last year and on the next day, I was granted bail. I promised that I will keep my head shaved till the Trinamul Congress regime is ousted from West Bengal. I am still sticking to that promise,” he told the media after making his announcement.
“Now, many might term me as a traitor. But since the beginning I had been clear on the point that the country’s oldest national party cannot have any understanding with a thoroughly corrupt force like Trinamul Congress. The party high command does not give any importance to the state unit. In such a situation, it is impossible for me to continue with the party at the cost of my self-respect,” Bagchi said.