Siliguri leader Nantu Paul quits Trinamul Congress, to contest as Independent

He said he had severed his ties with TMC and would submit his nomination papers on March 24

Graffiti seeking votes for Nantu Paul in Siliguri.: Passang Yolmo

TT   |   Siliguri   |  23.03.21 :  Senior Trinamul Congress leader Nantu Paul, who was peeved with the party’s nomination of Omprakash Mishra in the Siliguri Assembly segment, on Monday announced his contest in the same seat as an Independent.

Paul said he had severed his ties with Trinamul and would submit his nomination papers on March 24.

“I have quit Trinamul and will contest the election as an Independent. I have launched my campaign,” said the former Trinamul leader.

When Trinamul supremo Mamata Banerjee had announced the names of the party’s candidates for 291 Assembly seats, Paul with a political legacy of over three-and-a-half decades had openly expressed discontent with Mishra’s nomination in Siliguri.

In 2011, Rudranath Bhattacharya had bagged the Siliguri seat as the Trinamul candidate.

But footballer Bhaichung Bhutia contested on behalf of Trinamul in the 2016 Assembly polls, CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya won the seat.

After Mishra had been declared as the candidate, Paul said: “A local Trinamul leader should have been chosen for the seat to ensure that the party wins Siliguri again.”

Following Pal’s outburst, Trinamul served a showcause notice on him last week.

“I sent my resignation letter to the state Trinamul leaders and they have received the same. My wife Manjushree (also former Trinamul councillor), has also left the party,” said Paul.

Earlier, he had stepped down from the post of the vice-chairman of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.

“I had worked in different development bodies and sports associations for years. I will put before voters a 10-point development plan I have readied for the city,” said Paul.