Last Updated:May 05, 2026, 19:19 IST
Manoj Tiwary alleges Trinamool Congress downfall was because of corruption, claims he was denied Shibpur ticket for refusing to pay Rs 5 crore.
Manoj Tiwary has declared that he has quit TMC (Picture credit: PTI)
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has said that the downfall of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal was expected due to its massive corrupt practices, adding that he was denied a ticket to contest in the elections because he refused to pay Rs 5 crore.
Tiwary on Tuesday said that his association with the Trinamool Congress was over, alleging he was denied a ticket from Shibpur in Howrah for refusing to pay Rs 5 crore.
Tiwary served as Minister of State for Sports in the Mamata Banerjee-led government, whose 15-year tenure came to an end with a Bharatiya Janata Party sweep in the latest assembly elections on Monday.
“Look, I am not at all surprised by this debacle. This was bound to happen when an entire party has indulged in corrupt practices and there was no development in any sector,” Tiwary said while speaking to PTI.
“Only those who could pay hefty money could buy tickets. At least 70-72 candidates this time paid around Rs five crore to get a ticket. I was asked but I refused to pay,” Tiwary added.
The former Indian cricketer said that he had no plans to enter politics despite being offered a Lok Sabha ticket by the Trinamool Congress in 2019, but relented to contest and win from Shibpur in the 2021 Assembly elections.
“At that time, I had played for Punjab Kings in the IPL and was still playing Ranji Trophy seriously when Didi (Mamata) wanted me to contest the Lok Sabha. I had politely declined but before the 2021 elections, Didi once again called and told me ‘Manoj, I have a message for you and Aroop will tell you,” Tiwary said.
“I was asked to contest from Shibpur and I thought that I could make a meaningful change. I have attended meetings where all TMC ministers were summoned,” Tiwary added.
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