Silchar: Silchar legislator Dilip Kumar Paul said on Friday that the decision to resign from the deputy Speaker's post was "pre-planned" and he was feeling relaxed now. Paul had resigned on May 8.

He reached here around 2.30pm and was welcomed at the railway station by party workers. He said he had told chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal one-and-a-half-years ago that the post was not "suitable" for him, but the matter remained unsolved.

He said the people had voted for him with many expectations, but somewhere he was not able to connect with them (the way he wanted to). "Now that I am no more associated with that post, I am feeling much relieved/relaxed that I will be able to dedicate all my time working for the common masses," he said.

He said he had spoken to Sonowal recently and necessary formalities were on regarding the resignation.

Asked if non-inclusion in the recently-expanded ministry of the government made him take the decision, he said he was not "greedy" for posts, rather his only focus is to work for the masses.

Sonowal expanded his cabinet on April 26 with the inclusion of seven new faces, including five from the BJP and one each from alliance partners, the AGP and BPF.

No one from Barak Valley was included, while Suklabaidya, the only minister from Barak Valley, was given charge of environment and forests, besides his portfolios of excise and fisheries. Suklabaidya said he had "nothing to say" as it was Paul's personal decision to resign.

Congress legislator from Karimganj North K.D. Purkayastha said Paul took the decision out of "frustration and helplessness".