Kolkata, Dec 11 (IANS)

Five-time Congress MLA Ajoy Dey, who earlier joined the ruling Trinamool Congress, Wednesday submitted his resignation from the West Bengal assembly.

Dey, who represented Shantipur constituency in Nadia district and was also the vice president of the state Congress, joined the ruling party in November. He submitted his resignation to speaker Biman Banerjee.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said Dey will seek re-election and expressed hope that he will join the state assembly soon.

"As public representatives, our role is to ensure development and peace and I hope that people of Shantipur will stand by me," said Dey, adding that there is no alternative to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the development of the state.

Before his eventual switchover to Trinamool, Dey was suspended by the Congress for indiscipline.

Dey is the third Congress legislator in the state to cross over to Trinamool ranks since the 2011 assembly polls.

Earlier, Humayun Kabir of Rejinagar in Murshidabad district and Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury of Englishbazar in Malda district switched allegiance to the Trinamool. Both were rewarded with ministerial berths, but Kabir had to resign after he lost the by-election.

In recent months, many elected representatives in municipalities, municipal corporations and panchayat bodies have left the Congress and moved to the Trinamool.