Kolkata, March 24 – On Tuesday night, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee resigned from several "ministerial" positions she currently held, amidst the crucial two-phase state assembly elections in West Bengal, scheduled for next month.
Mamata Banerjee is a candidate for the Bhabanipur assembly constituency in South Kolkata, representing the Trinamool Congress.
Based on Banerjee's resignation from these "ministerial" positions, the state administration, currently under the direct authority of the Election Commission of India (ECI), with the model code of conduct in effect, initiated all necessary steps to implement the resignations as soon as possible, according to an insider from the state secretariat, Nabanna.
"The Chief Minister resigned from various positions with immediate effect, and the relevant departments have been asked to complete the process of accepting her resignation as soon as possible. Her resignation will be valid for both the listed positions and for any other positions she holds in any organization or committee," the insider from the state secretariat added.
It is learnt that the state government departments where the Chief Minister held "ministerial" positions and from which she resigned include environment, forest, health, and minority affairs, among others.
Furthermore, she also resigned from "ministerial" positions she held in organizations such as the West Bengal Disaster Management Authority and the West Bengal Public Policy and Planning Board.
"The Chief Minister took the decision to resign to send a message of transparency, although there is no official requirement for her to do so," said a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress and also a member of the state cabinet.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, against Chief Minister Banerjee from Bhabanipur.
Adhikari is also contesting from the Nandigram assembly constituency in East Midnapore, where he is already a sitting and two-time legislator.