West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : West Bengal’s Rajganj constituency after veteran four-time Trinamool Congress MLA Khageshwar Roy, who had expressed strong resentment over being denied a party ticket, softened his stance following a personal phone call from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Roy, a long-time party leader and influential figure in Jalpaiguri district politics, had initially reacted sharply after his name did not appear in the party’s candidate list. Expecting to be renominated, he was instead replaced by Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman, a decision that triggered visible anger and emotional remarks from the senior legislator.

Soon after the announcement of the Trinamool Congress candidate list, Khageshwar Roy publicly expressed his disappointment and even hinted at resigning from the party. He stated that he felt deeply hurt by the decision, claiming that he had been serving the party since its early years and had played a crucial role in strengthening its base in North Bengal, particularly by helping break Left strongholds in the region in 2009. In an emotional outburst, he also suggested that he had been “defeated by money,” a remark that quickly drew widespread political attention and added to the controversy surrounding his exclusion.

However, the situation changed dramatically when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally intervened and contacted the veteran MLA over the phone. According to Khageshwar Roy, that conversation proved to be decisive in calming tensions and resolving the dispute. He later addressed the media from his residence, revealing that the Chief Minister had spoken to him directly, reassured him, and urged him not to misunderstand the party’s decision.

Roy described the moment as deeply emotional, stating that he felt overwhelmed during the conversation and even had tears in his eyes. He admitted that some of his earlier comments were made in frustration and emotion, and he publicly apologized for them. Importantly, he clarified that although he had spoken about resignation, he never actually submitted any resignation letter and remains fully committed to the party.

Reaffirming his loyalty, Khageshwar Roy declared that he continues to be part of the Trinamool Congress and will remain with the party going forward. He also announced his support for the party’s new candidate in Rajganj, Swapna Barman, stating that he would actively campaign in her favour despite the earlier disagreement.

His sudden change of stance has brought considerable relief to the Trinamool Congress leadership, which had been facing internal turbulence following the release of its candidate list. The party had replaced 74 sitting MLAs across constituencies, leading to dissatisfaction among several senior leaders, including Roy.

Party sources have also indicated that Mamata Banerjee, while announcing the candidate list, had urged leaders who were not given tickets not to feel sidelined, assuring them that the party would find alternative roles for them in organisational responsibilities.

With Khageshwar Roy now publicly returning to the party fold and pledging support for the official candidate, the immediate crisis in Rajganj appears to have been defused. The episode once again highlights Mamata Banerjee’s direct intervention strategy in managing internal dissent and maintaining cohesion within the Trinamool Congress ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.