TMC internal dispute leads to request to freeze party bank accounts

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing an internal dispute after former treasurer Aroop Biswas requested a private bank in Kolkata to freeze the party's accounts, citing uncertainty over who has authority to operate them. The party, however, has stated that Biswas was removed as treasurer on June 5 and replaced by Subhasis Chakraborty.

In a letter dated June 12 to the branch manager of a leading private bank, Biswas, who identifies himself as the party treasurer, asked for an immediate suspension of transactions. He expressed concern about possible misuse of signed cheques kept at the party office. Biswas wrote that rival groups claim to be the legitimate representatives of the TMC, leading to uncertainty about who can operate the party's bank accounts. He noted that a number of elected representatives had left the party or revolted against the existing leadership, creating a serious dispute over the control and management of party affairs and assets.

Biswas requested the bank to maintain a status quo until the dispute is resolved. He asked the bank to refrain from permitting any debit transactions or changes in operational mandates until a competent authority issues appropriate directions.

Kunal Ghosh, a TMC leader, said in a video statement that Biswas was replaced as treasurer on June 5, and the party wanted to clear any confusion spread by certain media outlets.

The TMC's latest audited accounts submitted to the Election Commission (EC) for the 2024-2025 financial year show the party had a closing balance of Rs 676.11 crore as of March 31, 2025. It also declared fixed assets worth Rs 7.15 crore, including buildings worth Rs 3.37 crore and vehicles worth Rs 2.29 crore. Other assets include computers, cameras, mobile phones, sound systems, furniture, coffee machines, and air purifiers.

The report, submitted in October 2025, shows the TMC had a total income of Rs 219.35 crore that year, of which Rs 184.08 crore came from donations. The party spent Rs 137.58 crore on election expenditure in 2024-2025, the period covering the Lok Sabha elections. Since then, the party would have received donations and incurred significant expenditures for the West Bengal Assembly elections held earlier this year, but disclosures for 2025-2026 are not yet available with the EC.

The TMC was the second-highest recipient of electoral bonds from April 2019 to January 2024, with a total of Rs 1,609 crore, according to EC data released in March 2024.

Biswas, a former state sports minister, is also under investigation for his alleged role in an incident at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium in December 2024 during Argentine footballer Lionel Messi's visit. The Bidhannagar Police have registered an FIR against him and others in connection with the incident.

While rebel MPs have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing their support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, they have not yet staked claim to the party name and symbol. The internal dispute within the TMC continues to unfold.