West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, May 7: West Bengal minister and ex-Shibpur MLA Manoj Tiwary has once again launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, alleging that he was sidelined during his tenure and prevented from carrying out meaningful work while serving in the state government.

fresh video message posted on social media, Tiwary levelled serious allegations against senior Trinamool leader and former Sports Minister Arup Biswas. He claimed that during his stint as Minister of State in the Sports Department, he was not allowed to function independently and was obstructed from initiating major projects related to sports development.

Tiwary stated that despite holding ministerial office, he was given no real responsibility. In a pointed remark, he said the nature of the portfolio assigned to him was such that he had no work to perform other than sitting in the department and having tea and biscuits. According to him, any attempt to introduce or advance sports-related projects was blocked. He alleged that Arup Biswas did not allow him to execute proposals and did not pay heed to his suggestions. He further claimed that even the Chief Minister did not respond to his concerns during that period.

The former minister suggested that he had realised early on that the party would not remain in power for long because, in his view, it was failing to work for the people. He compared West Bengal’s performance in sports infrastructure and development unfavourably with that of other states, asserting that Bengal had fallen significantly behind. Tiwary argued that the perceived lack of development ultimately led voters to reject the Trinamool Congress. Congratulating the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said people had voted for change and that the outcome reflected public dissatisfaction.

Earlier this week, Tiwary had posted a cryptic message on social media stating that wrongdoing eventually catches up with those responsible, widely interpreted as another swipe at the state’s former ruling establishment.

The latest video, Tiwary also spoke about his former Assembly constituency of Shibpur. He claimed that during his tenure as MLA, he made sustained efforts to address long-standing drainage problems in the area. According to him, local residents and district authorities were aware of his attempts to resolve the issue. He alleged that misinformation had been spread regarding large-scale drainage projects worth crores of rupees, asserting that in reality little had been accomplished. Tiwary maintained that whatever improvements were made to the drainage system during that period were initiated by him.

The remarks are likely to intensify political exchanges in the state, as Trinamool leaders have previously rejected similar accusations from former colleagues who later aligned with the BJP. Tiwary’s statements add to the broader narrative of internal discord and shifting political loyalties that have characterised West Bengal politics in recent years.

The political temperature rises, Tiwary’s claims have once again brought attention to questions surrounding administrative functioning, development priorities and intra-party dynamics during the previous tenure of the Trinamool government.