After the Trinamool Congress' defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, internal dissent within All India Trinamool Congress appears to be growing, with two senior leaders stepping down from spokesperson roles on Thursday.
Doctor-turned-politician and former Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen resigned as the party's All-India Spokesperson through a letter addressed to party supremo Mamata Banerjee. In his resignation letter, Sen said he could no longer defend the party amid public anger over issues such as the RG Kar hospital incident, recruitment scams, and corruption allegations.
Sen, who had earlier faced suspension from the party for speaking out on the 2024 rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, said the Assembly election verdict reflected people's rejection of "immoral acts and corruption." He admitted that as party spokesperson he often had to defend positions he personally disagreed with.
His resignation came days after he publicly congratulated the newly elected BJP government and new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on social media, a move that reportedly caused discomfort within the party.
Separately, Trinamool councillor Arup Chakraborty also resigned from the post of party spokesperson, citing personal reasons in an email to party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. However, he acknowledged the people's verdict and criticised the party leadership after the election setback.
Chakraborty had earlier resigned from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's Accounts Committee, while fellow councillor Sushanta Ghosh stepped down as chairman of Borough No. 12. Both clarified that they would continue as councillors.
The BJP secured a decisive victory in the Assembly elections with 208 seats, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 seats, triggering unrest and public criticism from several party leaders over alleged corruption and extortion within the organisation.
