TMC leader Kunal Ghosh accused rebel MLA Sandipan Saha of using party funds for his election campaign and demanded the money be returned [1].
The dispute highlights growing internal instability within the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. As rebel lawmakers distance themselves from the party leadership, financial disputes are surfacing as a primary point of contention.
Ghosh said the funds were taken without permission [1]. He specifically alleged that Saha used 25 lakh rupees of TMC party money to fund his campaign activities [1]. This demand for reimbursement comes amid a broader rift between the party establishment and those who have rebelled against the current leadership.
Ghosh said the rebel MLAs are backstabbers [1]. The accusation suggests that the financial support provided during the election cycle was predicated on party loyalty, which the rebel members have since abandoned.
The conflict centers on the ethics of campaign financing and the ownership of funds distributed to candidates. By demanding the return of the 25 lakh rupees [1], Ghosh is attempting to hold the rebel MLA accountable for the resources used to secure his seat.
This confrontation occurs as the party navigates a period of internal friction. The public nature of the demand indicates that the TMC is unwilling to let rebel members retain the financial benefits of their party affiliation while opposing its leadership [1].
“Kunal Ghosh accused rebel MLA Sandipan Saha of using party funds for his election campaign.”
This dispute reflects a strategic move by the Trinamool Congress to penalize political defection. By framing the campaign funds as a loan or a conditional grant, the party leadership can use financial leverage to pressure rebel MLAs or publicly paint them as opportunistic, potentially weakening their standing with voters in West Bengal.
