Pabitra Kar, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Nandigram who had switched allegiance from the Bharatiya Janata Party to contest against Suvendu Adhikari, has announced his exit from active politics following his defeat in the assembly elections. Kar and his wife, Shiuli Kar, submitted their resignations from local body posts to the Nandigram Block II Block Development Officer on Friday, citing ill health as the reason.
Resignation from Panchayat Posts
Pabitra Kar resigned as a member of the Boyal gram panchayat, while Shiuli Kar stepped down from her position as panchayat pradhan. Both had won the 2023 panchayat elections on Bharatiya Janata Party tickets. Kar was earlier considered a close aide of Adhikari and was seen as a key organizer behind Adhikari's 2021 Nandigram victory over former chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Political Shift and Election Defeat
Kar's switch to Trinamool in March had created a political stir. The party named him its Nandigram candidate on the same day in an attempt to challenge Adhikari in his stronghold. However, Kar lost to Adhikari by 9,665 votes in the results declared on May 4. The resignations come amid reports of a wider wave of Trinamool functionaries stepping down from posts across East Midnapore, affecting local administrative services in several areas.
Impact on Local Administration
The mass resignations have raised concerns about the functioning of local bodies in East Midnapore. The exodus of Trinamool members from various posts is expected to disrupt administrative services in the region. The situation is being monitored by state authorities, who are assessing the need for interim arrangements to ensure continuity of governance.
