'Not aligned': TMC removes Kunal from post & as star campaigner
Times of India | 3 May 2024
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress removed Kunal Ghosh from the party's state general secretary's post on Wednesday and a day later dropped him from its list of star campaigners for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha election for "expressing views not aligning with those of the party".
The move came within 24 hours of Ghosh and BJP Kolkata (North) candidate Tapas Ray coming face to face at a blood donation camp on Bechu Chatterjee Street, where Ghosh referred to Ray as a "competent candidate" whose doors were always open for party workers.
Ghosh has been critical of Trinamool Kolkata (North) incumbent Sudip Bandyopadhyay, claiming in March that Bandyopadhyay keeps away from grassroots Trinamool workers. Trinamool had then removed Ghosh from the party spokesperson's post and leaned on him to meet Bandyopadhyay, over fish fry and tea, to resolve their differences. Ghosh's statements this week, which prompted Wednesday's and Thursday's Trinamool action, indicate that the peace was temporary and the differences too stark to be papered over.
An emotional Kunal Ghosh told a few party workers, who came to meet him on Thursday, that he was "with them on the ground" even though he had been stripped of his party posts. "Today or tomorrow Mamata di (CM Mamata Banerjee) and Abhishek (Banerjee) will realise this," he said, wiping away tears. He referred to his situation as "agnipariksha (trial by fire)" but also questioned why only "loyal party soldiers" had to repeatedly prove their allegiance while celebs and others - who never stood by the party leadership in "difficult times" - did not have to prove themselves.
The Trinamool letter, stripping Ghosh of his party post, was signed by party Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien. "Ghosh has been expressing views that do not align with those of the party. It is important to clarify that these are his personal opinions and should not be attributed to the party. Only statements issued from the Trinamool headquarters should be considered the official position of the party. Ghosh was previously relieved from his role as party spokesperson. Now he has been removed from the position of state general secretary," it read.
A few other party seniors, however, echoed Ghosh's questions. Former Rajya Sabha MP Shantanu Sen, also a party spokesperson, said it was usual for politicians from rival parties to share the dais at apolitical events. "Common courtesy should not be equated with political allegiance," he added.
State education minister Bratya Basu called Ghosh "a colleague and a friend". "He is still a part of the Trinamool. How he and the party will resolve the issue is an internal (party) matter. I believe there will be peace. But this is my hope and not based on any information," he added.
The statements reflected a level of unease within the party's Kolkata (North) unit as the constituency goes to vote on June 1. At least two Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillors have protested against Bandyopadhyay - one by staging an overnight dharna - this polling season. Sen is also a councillor from a ward in Kolkata (North).
Trinamool seniors on Thursday said Ghosh may have crossed the line in a television interview; his statements would "harm, not help, the party" in the middle of the poll season, they felt. One of the statements that Ghosh made was that the Trinamool was aware of former state education minister Partha Chatterjee's "misdeeds" in 2021 itself. He also said a person with links to the scam was still in the state cabinet.