Former West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick on Friday resigned from all positions he held within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), citing serious health concerns. The veteran party leader said his deteriorating physical condition had made it difficult for him to continue discharging organisational responsibilities, prompting him to step down from all party posts.
Mallick, a longtime associate of Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, said he had already informed the party leadership of his decision. Confirming his resignation, he stated that his health condition had worsened significantly, leaving him unable to continue in his organisational roles. There was no immediate response from the party leadership regarding the resignation.
The development comes shortly after the TMC carried out a major organisational reshuffle aimed at strengthening its structure ahead of future political challenges. As part of the exercise, Mallick had been inducted into the party’s reconstituted working committee, indicating that he continued to hold an important position within the organisation despite his legal and health-related difficulties.
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Mallick served as West Bengal’s food and supplies minister from 2011 to 2021 and was considered one of the key figures in the state government during that period. Over the years, he played a significant role in implementing welfare and public distribution programmes and remained a prominent face of the ruling party in state politics.
His political fortunes, however, suffered a major setback in October 2023 when the Enforcement Directorate arrested him in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam. Investigators have been probing allegations of irregularities in the public distribution system, while Mallick has denied wrongdoing. Since his arrest, he has repeatedly raised concerns about his health and has undergone multiple medical examinations while in custody.
The resignation also comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing internal challenges and reports of differences within sections of the party leadership. While Mallick did not link his decision to any political developments, his departure from all organisational posts is likely to attract attention given his long association with the party and his status as one of its senior leaders. The move marks another significant development in the ongoing political churn within the ruling party in West Bengal.
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