Pavan Verma, Ex Nitish Kumar Aide, Quits Trinamool Months After Joining It

Former Rajya Sabha MP Pavan Varma today resigned from the Trinamool Congress, just 10 months after joining the party. The diplomat-turned-politician had joined the Trinamool Congress in November last year after a stint with the Janata Dal (United).

Announcing his exit from Trinamool on Twitter, Mr Varma said "Dear Mamata Banerjee ji, Please accept my resignation from the Trinamool Congress. I want to thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me, and for your affection and courtesies.  I look forward to remaining in touch.  Wishing you all the best."

Dear @MamataOfficial ji, Please accept my resignation from the @AITCofficial. I want to thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me, and for your affection and courtesies. I look forward to remaining in touch. Wishing you all the best, and with warm regards, Pavan K. Varma

— Pavan K. Varma (@PavanK_Varma) August 12, 2022

Mr Varma was appointed TMC national vice-president in December 2021. However, after the formation of the new office bearers' committee in February this year, he was not given any formal post in the party.

According to reports, he had been maintaining a distance from the party leadership since the last few months.

His resignation came days after Nitish Kumar returned to the Mahagathbandhan, breaking Janata Dal (United)'s alliance with the BJP-led NDA in Bihar.

Mr Varma was expelled by the JDU in January 2020 along with the then party's national vice-president Prashant Kishor for allegedly not following "party discipline".

Pavan Varma has served as India's ambassador to several countries and has also been a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. Mr Varma has also authored several books and is a recipient of Bhutan's highest civilian award - Druk Thuksey Award.