As the Mamata Banerjee government suffered a setback in the Supreme Court in the teachers’ recruitment case, former Trinamool Congress MP Jawhar Sircar said he left the party because “corruption and authoritarianism were getting too bad”.

“People ask me why I resigned as MP of TMC. Would my conscience allow me to be a part of such rot? I went with TMC as it is the toughest fighter against communal, fascist BJP. I left because TMC’s corruption and authoritarianism were getting too bad,” Mr Sircar posted on X.

People ask me why I resigned as MP of TMC.

Would my conscience allow me to be a part of such rot?

I went with TMC as it is the toughest fighter against communal, fascist BJP.

I left because TMC’s corruption & authoritarianism were getting too bad. pic.twitter.com/nufFFYpnYQ

— Jawhar Sircar (@jawharsircar) April 3, 2025

A retired IAS officer, Mr Sircar has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati. Mr Sircar joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and was named a Rajya Sabha MP. In 2024, however, he resigned from the Upper House and the party in the aftermath of a doctor’s rape-murder in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

In an open letter to Ms Banerjee, Mr Sircar had spoken out against the alleged corruption within the ruling party. He had said that when he pointed to evidence of corruption against former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, he was heckled by a section of Trinamool leaders.

In a big setback to the Mamata Banerjee government, the Supreme Court today upheld the Calcutta High Court order, cancelling the appointment of more than 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff under the West Bengal School Service Commission. The Supreme Court said the entire selection process is “vitiated by manipulation and fraud” and its credibility and legitimacy “denuded”.

The bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said that it saw no reason to interfere with the High Court order. The court said the appointments resulted from cheating and are thus fraudulent.

Analysts have questioned claims that new tariffs are reciprocal and based on those charged against the US. 

​Analysts have questioned claims that new tariffs are reciprocal and based on those charged against the US.  

The US has exempted Indian pharmaceuticals from tariffs amidst President Trump’s broad tariff imposition, recognizing their crucial role in global healthcare. This move reinforces India’s position as a key provider of affordable generic medicines. Leaders highlight the strategic importance of the bilateral trade relationship, with the exemption offering India a chance to enhance its pharmaceutical sector.