TMC MP with Vice President

New Delhi: After resigning from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Trinamool Congress MP Prakash Chik Baraik said he quit after coming to the conclusion that the mandate in West Bengal was in favor of the BJP.Baraik, the third TMC MP to resign this week, also said he would “do as the CM (Suvendu Adhikari) says” and insisted that he was “not being pressured by the BJP”.His resignation is another blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led party, which is grappling with growing signs of rebellion within its ranks.Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Badaik said, “I resigned after considering the mandate of the people of Bengal. Now, I will do whatever the CM (Suvendu Adhikari) tells me…I am not being pressured by the BJP.Explaining his decision, he said that the election verdict in West Bengal has convinced him that it is no longer appropriate to continue in his post.He said, “It can be seen that TMC does not have a mandate and in a democracy if people want one party to win then we should respect it. That is why I have resigned.”Elaborating on this, Barak said, “The mandate in West Bengal…in whose favor was the decision of the people in this democratic country?” Bharatiya Janata PartyAnd the party formed the government there. In my own constituency, we could not win even a single seat. The results were not good in North Bengal also. In view of this mandate, I felt that it is no longer appropriate for me to continue in my post. Therefore, I resigned from both my post and the party.”He said, “What happens next, please wait and see. Things will come to light in time. Look, I am not old. Time will decide what I will do in politics in the future. Please wait and let time tell the answer.”Sources said Badaik met Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan and submitted his resignation.In his resignation letter, the West Bengal MP wrote, “I am resigning from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which please be accepted with immediate effect.”He also thanked the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their support and cooperation during his tenure.A tribal leader from West Bengal, Baraik served on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Consultative Committee on Tribal Affairs.Third TMC MP to resign this weekBadaik’s resignation comes amid the exit of several high-profile people from the Trinamool Congress.On Wednesday, former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from both the party and the Upper House. Explaining her decision she said that she did not want to be “in two boats at the same time”.“I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m in two boats at the same time. That’s not the right way to do it… Because of my family background and upbringing, I have never stayed in one party and served the other party,” he said.When asked about the news of joining BJP, Dev said, ‘When I take any decision, I will let you know.’His subsequent meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma further fueled speculation about his next political move.Earlier this week, Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray also resigned from the Upper House and later left the Trinamool Congress citing differences with the party leadership.The rebellion within TMC has deepenedWith Badaik’s resignation, TMC has now lost three Rajya Sabha MPs in a matter of days, increasing the challenges faced by the party after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.The party is also battling internal rebellion that has weakened its parliamentary and organizational structure.Sources in the rebel camp claim that they have secured the support of at least 19 Lok Sabha MPs – more than two-thirds of the party’s strength in the House – and are preparing to stake claim to the parliamentary wing of the party.The move mirrors developments in the West Bengal Assembly, where most of the rebel MLAs have already taken control of the party’s legislature party.The rebel group is expected to join forces with the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. The names associated with the group include several prominent TMC MPs including Sayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy, both of whom are considered close to Mamata Banerjee.Rebel MP Shatabdi Roy said, “I don’t know whether Sayoni has signed (the letter written by the rebel group to the Speaker) or not, but others have.”Sources also indicated that the rebel MPs and MLAs may jointly stake a claim on the Trinamool Congress, a strategy similar to the one adopted by breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP in Maharashtra, both of which were recognized by the Election Commission as parent parties and later formed an alliance with the BJP.This version removes duplication, tightens the narrative, and places the rebellion angle in a separate section for cleaner news flow.