3rd TMC MP Quits: Prakash Chik Baraik Resigns from Rajya Sabha

Kolkata (IANS): In a major blow to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Rajya Sabha member Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Upper House of Parliament on Thursday morning. Baraik submitted his formal resignation, dated June 11, to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.

Baraik’s departure marks the third high-profile Trinamool Rajya Sabha resignation in just four days, signalling a growing crisis within the party leadership.

A Week of High-Profile Trinamool Congress Resignations

The TMC is witnessing a rapid exodus of its parliamentarians. Here is how the timeline of resignations unfolded this week:

• June 8 – Sukhendu Sekhar Roy: The veteran leader resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the primary membership of the Trinamool Congress. Roy stated he wanted to respect the verdict of the West Bengal people following the recent Assembly elections.
• June 10 – Sushmita Dev: The prominent MP quit the Upper House and severed ties with the TMC. Speculation about her political future is mounting after she met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi immediately after her resignation, hinting at a potential move to the BJP.
• June 11 – Prakash Chik Baraik: The latest MP to step down, though his future within the party remains uncertain.

Who is Prakash Chik Baraik?

Baraik, who entered the Rajya Sabha in 2023, is widely known as a close confidant of TMC General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee.

Prior to the West Bengal Assembly elections, party insiders debated whether to field Baraik from an Assembly constituency in North Bengal. Ultimately, the party decided against the move.

Unlike Roy and Dev, Baraik has not yet confirmed whether he will resign from the primary membership of the Trinamool Congress. He has also declined to comment on the specific reasons behind his sudden exit.

This wave of resignations hits the Trinamool Congress at a critical juncture. The party now faces potential disintegration across both the state Assembly and Parliament.

These rapid exits raise urgent questions about the future of the party’s leadership structure, currently spearheaded by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee.