Prashant Kishor responsible for TMC's defeat in Goa, alleges State unit chief as he resigns

The TMC drew a blank in its maiden electoral outing in Goa

Goa Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Kiran Kandolkar resigned on Wednesday and alleged that political strategist Prashant Kishor was responsible for the "humiliating" defeat of the Mamata Banerjee-led party in the recent State Assembly polls who also tried to "blackmail" the Congress.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kandolkar claimed that Mr. Kishor ended up helping Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government after the polls.

The resignation of Mr. Kandolkar and two other leaders, who had contested on the TMC symbol, came as another setback for the Mamata Banerjee-led party which is struggling to retain its flock in Goa since the poll debacle.

The TMC drew a blank in its maiden electoral outing in Goa.

"Prashant Kishor was responsible for the TMC's humiliating defeat in Goa polls. He was in Goa to blackmail the Congress and eventually ended up helping the BJP to form the government again," Mr. Kandolkar alleged.

He, however, didn't elaborate on the "blackmail" charge against Mr. Kishor, who recently declined to join Congress.

Mr. Kandolkar, along with Tarak Arolkar, and Sandeep Vazarkar have resigned from the primary membership of the Mamata Banerjee-led party.