Swapan Dasgupta Resigns from RS Amid Row Over His Name for Polls

A day after the TMC cited constitutional rulebook to say a nominated member of the Upper House could not join a political party, Swapan Dasgupta, senior journalist and BJP candidate for the fast approaching West Bengal elections, resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Dasgupta, who became a Rajya Sabha member in April, 2016, has been named by the saffron party as its candidate from Tarakeswar assembly seat in the poll-bound state.

“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 posted on Twitter.

The TMC had decided to move a disqualification notice against Dasgupta for “violating the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution”, after the BJP gave him ticket to contest.

“I have a particular status in the Rajya Sabha as a presidential nominee. I am contesting this election as a BJP candidate from Tarakeshwar. Naturally, between two things, there are a lot of outstanding issues. The nomination process involves resolving all these. And all these issues will be resolved by the time I file my nomination. I haven’t yet filed my nomination. I hope to do so either on Thursday or on Friday,” NDTV quoted Dasgupta as saying.

The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution says a nominated member of Parliament shall be disqualified if he or she joins a political party after the expiry of six months from the date of taking the seat.

The BJP announced Sunday that Dasgupta would be the party’s candidate from Tarakeshwar constituency in Bengal that is going to assembly polls in eight phases starting March 27.

The day he was nominated, Dasgupta said BJP wants to put an end to TMCs ‘syndicate raj’ in West Bengal. He also asked people who hail from the state but live outside to “chip in” and help the BJP build ‘Sonar Bangla’ (golden Bengal).

“We all are aware about the situation prevailing in state. This atmosphere of violence, extortion…. we want to end that. The BJP will ensure that people in Bengal get to live in peace,” he said.

Senior saffron party leaders including Amit Shah and J P Nadda have often hit out at the Mamata Banerjee camp for allegedly patronising syndicates and clubs that extort money from common people.

Dasgupta also said that “work opportunities have dried up” in the state, and talented youth are moving out for jobs and higher education. “Bengalis have been able to establish themselves all over the world. Sadly, they do not get enough scope to work here and move out. We wish to stem that flow,” he said.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Honoured to be nominated by the West Bengal BJP to contest from Tarakeshwara centre of Bengals cultural heritage. I look forward to the campaign for a new, vibrant Sonar Bangla.” .