West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; West Midnapore, May 8 : The politically explosive statement following the Trinamool Congress’s poor performance in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Kalyan Tiwari, Chairman of the Ramjibanpur Municipality in West Midnapore district, has directly blamed party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for the party’s downfall.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Tiwari alleged that the concept of “nephew politics” and internal functioning under Abhishek Banerjee’s influence were primarily responsible for the party’s electoral collapse. His remarks have triggered fresh political controversy within the already shaken TMC ranks.

Tiwari further claimed that since the 2021 elections, elected representatives of the party have been under severe mental pressure due to constant monitoring and interference allegedly influenced by the consultancy firm I-PAC. He alleged that repeated phone calls were made late at night pressuring leaders to complete assigned work, with warnings that failure would lead to removal from their positions.

He also made serious allegations of fear and intimidation within the party structure, claiming that leaders were discouraged from leaving the organisation due to alleged threats involving the police administration. According to him, this created an atmosphere where dissent or exit was not a viable option for many party workers and elected representatives.

Tiwari described an incident suggesting strict and unusual protocols during meetings with Abhishek Banerjee, alleging that even elected representatives were required to comply with unusual security-related instructions before entering discussions.

He also accused the party of directing funds for various political programmes without providing clarity on financial sources or accountability mechanisms, raising questions over internal transparency.

Interestingly, during his statement, Tiwari also praised BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, which has added further political weight to his remarks. He went on to openly challenge Abhishek Banerjee to participate in grassroots-level politics, urging him to engage directly with the public rather than operate from the top leadership structure.

The comments have intensified political tensions in West Bengal, coming at a time when the Trinamool Congress is already dealing with internal dissent and post-election criticism. Party insiders are yet to issue an official response to Tiwari’s allegations, but the statement is expected to trigger strong reactions within the political circles of the state.