Advocate General Jayanta Mitra resigned citing difference of opinion with TMC government.
In a surprise turn of events at the Calcutta High Court today, the Advocate General resigned his post, citing "differences of opinion" with the state government that had appointed him.
"There were differences of opinion and I decided to resign so the government could work as per its policies," Advocate General Jayanta Mitra said.
Mr Mitra is the third Advocate General to have resigned in the six years since the Trinamool government came to power in 2011. He had been appointed in December 2014 after Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee retired for reasons of health after holding the post for 22 months.
Mr Chatterjee's predecessor, Mr Anindya Mitra, resigned in February 2013 without citing any reason. He was the first Advocate General appointed after Mamata Banerjee came to power in May 2011.
While Mr Jayanta Mitra mentioned a "difference of opinion", he did not say over what issue. But according to sources, the government was apparently unhappy with his tackling of the Narada sting operation case, in which several Trinamool leaders are allegedly seen taking bribes on a video said to have been secretly shot by a journalist.
The sting operation had created a furore when it first came to light just before the Assembly elections last year. The matter is now in court and the bench has made some harsh comments during the hearing, asking more than once why investigation should not be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Its order is expected soon.