Politics – TMC Faces Internal Turmoil After Senior Leader’s Suspension
Politics – The political atmosphere in West Bengal intensified on Monday after the All India Trinamool Congress suspended senior party leader Riju Dutta for six years over alleged disciplinary violations. The action has triggered fresh debate within the state’s political circles, with leaders from rival parties reacting cautiously while questions continue to emerge over internal disagreements inside the ruling party.
BJP Reacts to Suspension Row
West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh responded to the controversy by stating that the developments were entirely related to the Trinamool Congress and did not concern the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking to reporters, Ghosh remarked that several youth leaders and spokespersons associated with the ruling party had recently been making statements against their own organisation, indicating deeper issues within the party structure.
He suggested that the situation reflected growing unrest among sections of the Trinamool Congress leadership, adding that the party itself would have to address the matter internally.
Disciplinary Action Against Riju Dutta
The suspension order was issued from the Trinamool Congress central office in Kolkata. According to the party’s disciplinary committee, Riju Dutta had earlier been served a show-cause notice over public comments allegedly directed against the party leadership and organisational functioning.
The committee stated that Dutta was instructed to appear before it and clarify his remarks. However, the order noted that he failed to attend the scheduled hearing before the deadline and did not provide any explanation regarding his absence.
Party officials further stated that his conduct was viewed as harmful to organisational discipline, unity, and the public image of the Trinamool Congress. Following the review, the leadership decided to suspend him from the party for six years.
Allegations Against I-PAC and Party Structure
Before the suspension became official, Dutta had publicly criticised the functioning of the Trinamool Congress and accused political consulting group I-PAC of influencing party decisions. While speaking to media organisations on Sunday, he alleged that the consultancy group had been effectively controlling several aspects of party operations over the past few months.
Dutta claimed that party workers were being directed on political messaging and campaign conduct. He further alleged that some leaders were pressured to make personal attacks against opposition figures, including BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and members of his family.
In another serious allegation, Dutta claimed that he was asked to arrange a significant amount of money in order to secure an opportunity to contest elections. These allegations have not received any official response from I-PAC so far.
Claims Over Election Defeat
The suspended leader also linked the party’s recent electoral setback to multiple internal issues. According to Dutta, one major reason behind the decline in public support was dissatisfaction with lower-level party workers.
He alleged that sections of local cadres were involved in corruption and misconduct against ordinary citizens, damaging the credibility of the party at the grassroots level. At the same time, he maintained that senior leaders such as Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were personally not involved in corrupt activities.
Dutta further claimed that concerns related to women’s safety and treatment had negatively impacted the party’s support among female voters. He argued that welfare announcements alone were not enough to restore public trust if allegations against local workers continued to surface.
Political Impact in West Bengal
The controversy arrives at a politically sensitive time in West Bengal, where both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP are actively preparing for future electoral battles. Dutta also claimed that the BJP, despite being relatively newer in the state’s political landscape compared to the Trinamool Congress, could emerge as a stronger alternative for governance in the future.
The Trinamool Congress leadership has not yet issued a detailed public statement responding to the broader allegations made by Dutta beyond the disciplinary action announcement.