India, June 8 -- Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray on Monday resigned from the Rajya Sabha and quit the party, bringing to an end his long association with the TMC.

The development comes as the Trinamool Congress grapples with growing internal dissent that could lead to a split, following its loss to the BJP in West Bengal.

In his resignation letter, Ray said the people of West Bengal had delivered a decisive mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), bringing an end to the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule in the state.

Referring to the election result, Ray wrote,"In the recently held election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the people have given huge mandate in favour of the Bhartiya Janata Party for ...