Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has stepped away from active politics, announcing his departure from the All India Trinamool Congress shortly after the party’s loss in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Tiwary, who previously served as a junior sports minister in the state, has made serious allegations regarding the party’s internal practices.
According to Tiwary, he was denied a ticket from the Shibpur constituency in Howrah after refusing to pay a sum of ₹5 crore. He claimed that several candidates were allegedly required to pay large amounts of money to secure election tickets, raising concerns about transparency and fairness within the party.
The election results marked a significant political shift in West Bengal, as the Bharatiya Janata Party defeated the TMC, ending its long-standing rule in the state under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Reflecting on the outcome, Tiwary stated that he was not surprised by the defeat, attributing it to alleged corruption and lack of development across sectors.
He further revealed that he had initially been approached by Mamata Banerjee in 2019 to contest parliamentary elections, which he declined at the time due to his cricket commitments, including playing in the Indian Premier League and domestic tournaments. However, he later agreed to contest the 2021 Assembly elections from Shibpur, believing he could contribute positively to society.
In his statements, Tiwary also criticized former sports minister Aroop Biswas, alleging a lack of understanding of sports administration and claiming that key initiatives such as a structured sports policy were overlooked.
Additionally, he referred to the controversial event featuring football star Lionel Messi in Kolkata, which faced widespread criticism due to poor management and restricted access for the general public. Tiwary stated that he chose to stay away from the event, anticipating mismanagement and dissatisfaction among fans.
Following these developments, Tiwary confirmed that he has no immediate plans to continue in politics, stating that his association with the party has come to an end.