Hours after Kunal Ghosh shared a stage with party turncoat and BJP candidate Tapas Roy, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday removed him as the party’s general secretary. Ghosh also praised Roy, pushing the TMC to remove him from the post.
In a statement, the TMC said the remarks by Kunal Ghosh do not reflect the party’s official stance and emphasised that they were his personal opinions.
Ghosh’s commendation of Tapas Ray, a former four-term TMC MLA who recently joined the BJP and is now contesting against the TMC’s incumbent MP Sudip Bandopadhyay in Calcutta North, occurred during a public event where both politicians were present.
Kunal Ghosh described Ray as a “true mass leader” with an open-door policy for party workers and people, expressing admiration for his decades-long acquaintance.
In a statement, the TMC said, “Recently, Mr. Kunal 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 AITC headquarters should be considered the official position of the party.”
It added, “Mr. Ghosh was previously relieved from his role as party spokesperson. Now, he has been removed from the position of General Secretary of the state organisation. We urge all media outlets not to conflate his views with those of the party, as doing so may necessitate legal action.”
Responding to Ghosh’s praise, Tapas Ray expressed gratitude and emphasized that their relationship transcended politics, noting that individuals from various political parties hold him in high regard.
In a subsequent statement to reporters, Kunal Ghosh clarified that his remarks were made in a non-political context during a local club-organised blood donation drive, underscoring his personal appreciation for Tapas Roy’s character and political acumen.
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Kolkata Uttor, scheduled for the final phase on June 1, are expected to be closely contested amid the BJP’s ambitious goal of securing 25 or more seats in Bengal, following its success in winning 18 out of 42 seats during the previous elections.
The removal of Kunal Ghosh from his TMC leadership position underscores the party’s firm stance on maintaining ideological cohesion and discipline among its members as the electoral competition intensifies in West Bengal.
