Kolkata, Hours after Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh shared the stage with the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate and praised him, the TMC on Wednesday removed him from the post of state general secretary for making statements that did not align with the party. .
Ghosh, who is seeking greater prominence for the next generation of leaders, has expressed his desire to resign from the post of party spokesperson and state general secretary in March.
After this the party accepted his resignation from the post of spokesperson but asked him to continue on another post.
“Kunal Ghosh has been expressing views that are not in sync with the party… M Ghosh was earlier relieved of his role as party spokesperson. He has now been removed from the post of general secretary of the state organisation, TMC said in a statement.In the statement signed by TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O'Brien, Bhag also asked media outlets not to mix Ghosh's views with the party warning that doing so could lead to legal action.
"It is important to clarify that these are his personal views... Only statements issued from the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) headquarters should be considered the official position of the party," it said.
Despite being removed from the post of party spokesperson, he has been regularly holding press conferences from the party headquarters during the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign.
A senior TMC leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Ghosh's removal as a "calibrated punishment", indicating that his removal as state spokesperson in March was a warning, and as state general secretary This removal is the final action.
Ghosh did not attend the rally of TMC's Sudi Bandopadhyay from Kolkata North Lok Sabha constituency, but attended a blood donation program where BJP candidate Tapas Ray was present.At the programme, Ghosh said, “Tapas Ray is a true leader. His doors are always open for party workers and people. I have known him for many decades. Unfortunately, our paths are now different... I hope the elections remain free and fair, and let people cast their votes freely.
Ray, a four-time TMC MLA, joined the BJP in March when the party re-nominated its sitting MP Sudip Bandopadhyay from the Kolkata North seat.BJP fielded Ray against Bandopadhyay.
Responding to Ghosh's removal from his post, Ray said, "Who they will suspend or expel is their internal matter. I have nothing to say about it. But it proves that TMC believes in decorum in politics." Doesn't."
Ghosh, considered close to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, has created such a storm this year that the party's old leaders need to know that they have to step aside for the next generation.He had also accused a section of old leaders, including Sudip Bandopadhyay, of joining hands with the BJP.
Following this, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee herself issued a stern warning, directing party leaders to refrain from publicly discussing the differences, and emphasizing that any violation could lead to disciplinary action .
The controversy began in November last year when Banerjee advocated respect for senior members and rejected the notion that older leaders should retire from active politics.
TMC national general secretary and Banerjee's nephew Abhishek supported the retirement age in politics, citing decline in work efficiency and productivity with increasing age.
The rise and fall of Ghosh, a journalist by profession in the local media, in TMC has been a subject of debate.Ghosh, a vocal critic of the Left Front regime, was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha nomination by the TMC in 2012.
However, after the Saradha chitfund scam bubble burst in 2013, Ghosh, then CE of Saradha Media Group, openly clashed with TMC.
He was arrested in November 2013 in connection with the Saradha chitfund scam and later suspended by the party.
Later, after the CBI took over the investigation, Ghosh continued to speak out against the leadership. In 2016, he got bail from the court.
In July 2020, he was appointed the spokesperson of TMC and in June 2021, he was appointed the state general secretary of the party.
Ghosh, who is seeking greater prominence for the next generation of leaders, has expressed his desire to resign from the post of party spokesperson and state general secretary in March.
After this the party accepted his resignation from the post of spokesperson but asked him to continue on another post.
“Kunal Ghosh has been expressing views that are not in sync with the party… M Ghosh was earlier relieved of his role as party spokesperson. He has now been removed from the post of general secretary of the state organisation, TMC said in a statement.In the statement signed by TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O'Brien, Bhag also asked media outlets not to mix Ghosh's views with the party warning that doing so could lead to legal action.
"It is important to clarify that these are his personal views... Only statements issued from the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) headquarters should be considered the official position of the party," it said.
Despite being removed from the post of party spokesperson, he has been regularly holding press conferences from the party headquarters during the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign.
A senior TMC leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Ghosh's removal as a "calibrated punishment", indicating that his removal as state spokesperson in March was a warning, and as state general secretary This removal is the final action.
Ghosh did not attend the rally of TMC's Sudi Bandopadhyay from Kolkata North Lok Sabha constituency, but attended a blood donation program where BJP candidate Tapas Ray was present.At the programme, Ghosh said, “Tapas Ray is a true leader. His doors are always open for party workers and people. I have known him for many decades. Unfortunately, our paths are now different... I hope the elections remain free and fair, and let people cast their votes freely.
Ray, a four-time TMC MLA, joined the BJP in March when the party re-nominated its sitting MP Sudip Bandopadhyay from the Kolkata North seat.BJP fielded Ray against Bandopadhyay.
Responding to Ghosh's removal from his post, Ray said, "Who they will suspend or expel is their internal matter. I have nothing to say about it. But it proves that TMC believes in decorum in politics." Doesn't."
Ghosh, considered close to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, has created such a storm this year that the party's old leaders need to know that they have to step aside for the next generation.He had also accused a section of old leaders, including Sudip Bandopadhyay, of joining hands with the BJP.
Following this, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee herself issued a stern warning, directing party leaders to refrain from publicly discussing the differences, and emphasizing that any violation could lead to disciplinary action .
The controversy began in November last year when Banerjee advocated respect for senior members and rejected the notion that older leaders should retire from active politics.
TMC national general secretary and Banerjee's nephew Abhishek supported the retirement age in politics, citing decline in work efficiency and productivity with increasing age.
The rise and fall of Ghosh, a journalist by profession in the local media, in TMC has been a subject of debate.Ghosh, a vocal critic of the Left Front regime, was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha nomination by the TMC in 2012.
However, after the Saradha chitfund scam bubble burst in 2013, Ghosh, then CE of Saradha Media Group, openly clashed with TMC.
He was arrested in November 2013 in connection with the Saradha chitfund scam and later suspended by the party.
Later, after the CBI took over the investigation, Ghosh continued to speak out against the leadership. In 2016, he got bail from the court.
In July 2020, he was appointed the spokesperson of TMC and in June 2021, he was appointed the state general secretary of the party.