Bengal Congress leader Koustav Bagchi quits party; hints at joining BJP

Protesting against the Congress leadership's indifference to the West Bengal unit and their tie-up with the "corrupt TMC", Congress leader Koustav Bagchi resigned from the party on Wednesday,. He claimed that he did not want to compromise on his "self-respect".

Bagchi, who had his head tonsured after being released on bail following his arrest over comments against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last year, sent his resignation letter to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. He also sent copies to party state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and general secretary and state in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

Bagchi told the media, "Maybe people will call me anti-party now. But, I have been saying one thing again and again that I am against Congress joining hands with the corrupt TMC." The Congress and the TMC are part of the Opposition bloc INDIA.

"The Congress top leadership does not give any importance to the West Bengal unit. So, I do not want to compromise my self-respect and stay in it," he added.

Asked about his future plans, he hinted at joining the BJP. "You have to wait a day or two. Everything will be clear... but I would like to say that at the moment it's only BJP's Suvendu Adhikari who can oust the Trinamool Congress government from West Bengal," he said.

After being released on bail in March last year, Bagchi had his head tonsured and vowed to not grow hair till the Mamata Banerjee government is in power in the state.

(with agency inputs)