KOLKATA (TIP): Within hours of getting bail in the Saradha case, Srinjoy Bose quit Trinamool Congress and announced he was resigning as Rajya Sabha MP as well.

Srinjoy’s quitting is a blow to Trinamool as he was perceived as close to chief minister Mamata Banerjee who called him by his nickname, Tumpai, and publicly defended him after his arrest.

Sources say 38-year-old Srinjoy had been gradually distancing himself from the party during his 75-day custody but the timing of his resignation took everyone by surprise. He had earlier resigned as editor of Trinamool mouthpiece, Jago Bangla, and his name in the print-line was quickly replaced by Trinamool secretary-general Partha Chatterjee. He had also shunned VIP hospital treatment —unlike transport minister Madan Mitra — choosing to be treated in the cardiology ward of SSKM hospital.