Swapan Dasgupta quits RS after Trinamul salvo -announced his resignation via Twitter, a day after the Trinamul Congress had raised a stink over a nominated MP joining a political party after the permitted time

He announced his resignation via Twitter, a day after TMC had raised a stink over a nominated MP joining a political party after the permitted time

Swapan Dasgupta: File picture

TT  |   New Delhi   |  17.03.21 : Swapan Dasgupta, BJP’s candidate for the Tarkehswar Assembly seat in Bengal, on Tuesday submitted his resignation as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. 

He announced his resignation via Twitter, a day after the Trinamul Congress had raised a stink over a nominated MP joining a political party after the permitted time. Trinamul was all set to submit an application for his disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

According to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a nominated member of a House shall be disqualified from being a member if he/she joins any political party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he/she takes his seat. Dasgupta had been nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April 2016, and had not opted to join the BJP during the six-month window.

While announcing his resignation, Dasgupta made no mention of the legal provision cited by Trinamul. 

“I have resigned from the Rajya Sabha today to commit myself totally to the fight for a better Bengal. I hope to file my nomination as BJP candidate for the Tarakeshwar Assembly seat in the next few days,’’ he tweeted.

Dasgupta had been named a candidate on Sunday, after which Trinamul’s Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra had raised the issue on Twitter. 

“Swapan Dasgupta is BJP candidate for WB polls. 10th Schedule of Constitution says nominated RS member to be disqualified if he joins any political party AFTER expiry of 6 months from oath. He was sworn in April 2016, remains unallied. Must be disqualified NOW for joining BJP,’’ she tweeted on Monday.

Mahua Moitra:  File picture

There was no official word from the Rajya Sabha secretariat on whether the Chairman had accepted the resignation and Dasgupta technically remained on the rolls all day. 

Officials indicated that the acceptance of his resignation would be formally announced by the Chairman during Wednesday’s proceedings.

Trinamul’s Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Ray had prepared a detailed petition for Dasgupta’s disqualification as a member of the House under the Tenth Schedule. But before he could submit the petition to the Chairman, Dasgupta announced his resignation after which Moitra took to Twitter to say: “Thank you Sir (Dasgupta) -- we wish you well for the upcoming WB polls.’’