Nominated member Swapan Dasgupta resigns from Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Columnist and nominated Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta, BJP candidate for the Bengal state assembly election on Tuesday tendered his resignation from the upper house of Parliament.

Trinamool Congress had cited constitutional provisions which stipulate that the effect that a nominated member of the upper house could not join a political party.

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

Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra also had tweeted that a nominated member of Rajya Sabha can be disqualified if the person joins a political party after six months from oath. She alleged that Mr Dasgupta, who was nominated by former President Pranab Mukherjee in 2016, hasn't declared his alliance with the BJP.

"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 him as saying.

Constitutional rules say a nominated member of a House "shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat after complying with the requirements of Article 99 or, as the case may be, Article 188".

Sources said that he has submitted his resignation, asking it to be considered effective from Wednesday.

Asked about his resignation, Dasgupta told PTI that "I have always said whatever necessary steps will have to be taken will be done by me before I submit my nomination papers (for West Bengal polls).

Dasgupta's term as Rajya Sabha member is till April, 2022.