After the Trinamul Congress lost the Assembly election, many of its leaders have come out in the open expressing their dissent. While some are blaming the party’s top leaders, others are attacking the election consultancy firm, I-PAC.
Senior leaders, including Kalyan Banerjee and suspended spokesperson Riju Dutta accused the firm of interfering in ticket distribution and even demanding money, damaging the grassroots contact of the party in the process.
Riju Dutta, suspended for six years by the TMC, said: “I have not left the party. I’m suspended. I have started working as a microbiologist. I will continue to be a political analyst. I’m not leaving politics for sure.”
Former cricketer Manoj Tiwary, who served as the junior sports minister, hit out at the party, claiming that Rs 5 crore was demanded from each candidate during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, which he refused to pay.
He has claimed his senior minister Aroop Biswas lacked proper understanding of sports. He narrated how he was subjected to hurdles within the department in last five years. He said his ‘MoS’ position was just a ‘lollypop’. “When I came into the department, I thought could guide the talented youth to the right path and give them a good platform. I had drawn a detailed plan how to bring in world renowned athlete Yohan Blake for a Centre of Excellence in Bengal. But when I went with the plan, he refused citing high expenses. I was devastated. I had even approached the then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee but she insisted I get it approved from Aroop Biswas,” Manoj said in his post. He has since left the TMC. The cricket commentator said: “I’m not thinking of any political association right now,” Manoj said.
Former MLA Tapan Chatterjee also blamed Aroop Biswas for destroying the party’s image in Burdwan. “I wanted the party to lose. Abhishek Banerjee is to be blamed for letting I-PAC demand Rs 20 lakh from me for a ticket,” said the ex-MLA.
Jawahar Sarkar has blamed ‘tolabaji’ (cut money) and corruption for the TMC-led govt’s loss. He also blamed the state’s constant opposition and tussle with the Centre for losing out on industrial development. “Mamata Banerjee single-handedly finished the professional bureaucracy in the state,” said the former IAS officer during a television interview.
Spokespersons Kohinoor Majumdar and Kartik Ghosh too have been suspended by the TMC for allegedly violating party discipline.
Kohinoor Majumdar had told the media, ”Party leaders had to wait for hours to meet Abhishek Banerjee.”
Member of Parliament from Hooghly Rachana Banerjee also has come out blaming the party for politicization of Tollywood. “Fifteen years ago, there was no political party running the industry, never any cause for disturbance. Lately, many of us were feeling uncomfortable. Why should there be politics in the film and television industry,” she told the media.
Meanwhile, party chairperson Mamata Banerjee in a meet with the party’s ‘social media warriors’ on Tuesday said that the goal of the party is 2029 and they aim to dethrone the BJP-led govt in Delhi. According to sources, Mamata has said that the INDIA bloc partners are stronger than before. Sources said, Abhishek Banerjee, TMC national general secretary was also present at the meeting and also addressed the young team.