Mayor Sovan Chatterjee on Tuesday rubbished speculations of resignation from his post doing the rounds in political circle for quite some time now and also denied having been isolated in party ranks.

The mayor further said on Tuesday chief minister Mamata Banerjee had asked him to continue in his current posts. She has reportedly asked him to discharge his duties both as mayor and minister.

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Mr Chatterjee, torn between the marital turbulence and murmur of cold relations within the party rank and files, on Tuesday poured cold water on the issue of his resignation saying, “Some people are spreading rumours with a mala- fide intention.It’s now for you(read reporters) to prove that I e-mailed my resignation to whom. There is not an iota of truth in such speculation. I had spoken to party chief Mamata Banerjee twice, who had asked me to continue discharging my duties in my current posts.”

A Bengali Daily had carried a front-page report yesterday claiming the mayor had already e-mailed his resignation letter. But the mayor categorically denied of having developed any strained relations with the party top brass saying, “I have very strong working relations with all party leaders and even spoken to party chief Mamata Banerjee twice, who had asked me to continue in my current posts.”

The mayor, however, attributed his absence in the party core committee meeting held at Nazrul Manch to his KMC budget preparation. On regard to his much talked- about relations with Baishakhi Banerjee, he said, “ Baishakhi is my family friend for a long time. I am going through a very tough time of late.

And at this juncture she helped me a lot by being by my side through thick and thin. Had she been not by my side I would have lost my existence.” Dwelling further, Mr Chatterjee said, “Removal of Baishakhi from WBCUPA has nothing to do with me. It was entirely a party decision and if one thinks that she was removed due to me then I utterly condemn such act. I will stand by her.”

Party supremo Mamata Banerjee had not asked any questions regarding Baishakhi, he said. “Those who are raking up Baishaki issue involving me are doing this in their own interests and to spoil my political life,” alleged the mayor.

Ducking the question on the issue of “insecurity” for which he had lodged a General Diary(GD) at Rabindra Sarobar police station seeking additional force deployment at his Golpark flat, which his estranged wife Ratna Chatterjee claimed to be her brother’s flat, mayor said, “ I have the requisite residential rights to stay there.”

In regard to Ratna Chatterjee’s advice yesterday calling upon him to return to his Behala residence, mayor said that he had no intention to return there although it is his paternal property.

Refuting mayor’s claim on Baishakhi that she was a long time family friend, estranged wife Ratna Chatterjee, however, claimed that it is only since 2016 that she was known to us.