Anonymous posters carrying abusive remarks against ‘rebel’ Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay surfaced across North Kolkata on Monday evening, triggering fresh political controversy. The posters, which appeared in several parts of the veteran politician's Lok Sabha constituency, not only targeted Sudip personally but also carried the names of BJP minister Tapas Ray and Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh as the "promoters". Both leaders, however, have denied any involvement in putting up the posters.
The posters feature Sudip Bandyopadhyay's photograph alongside the Bengali slogan: "Beiman aar chor-ta, Nayana didir bor-ta" ("The traitor and the thief, Nayana Didi's husband"), referring to Sudip's wife, Nayana Bandyopadhyay, who continues to remain a Trinamool Congress MLA despite her husband's political realignment.
The names of "Tapas Ray" and "Kunal Ghosh" appear at the bottom of the posters as promoters. However, it remains unclear whether the references are to BJP MLA and State Industries Minister Tapas Ray and Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh.
Kunal Ghosh distanced himself from the posters, saying the Kunal Ghosh mentioned was "not him", but added that he agreed with the sentiment expressed.
"The Kunal Ghosh mentioned in the poster is not me. Tapasda belongs to another party, and I cannot say whether the Tapas Ray mentioned is the same person. However, I agree with what has been written on the poster," Ghosh said.
Tapas Ray also denied any role in the campaign, pointing out that the poster did not identify him as a minister. "If it were me, the poster would have mentioned 'Minister' before my name. That Tapas is not me. But I have opposed Sudip for years in North Kolkata politics. People in the area are deeply dissatisfied with him," Ray said.
The posters were spotted at Taltala Bus Stand, near Bangabasi College, Creek Row and the Railway Cooperative Bank—locations that fall within Sudip Bandyopadhyay's North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. The identity of those responsible for putting up the posters remains unknown.
The appearance of the names of Tapas Ray and Kunal Ghosh has fuelled political speculation, as both leaders have been among Sudip Bandyopadhyay's most vocal critics despite belonging to rival political camps.
Tapas Ray has previously described the veteran parliamentarian as a "white elephant", while Kunal Ghosh has repeatedly launched personal attacks against him. Kunal has also, in the past, suggested that Sudip played a role in Tapas Ray's exit from the Trinamool Congress.
The latest controversy comes against the backdrop of Sudip Bandyopadhyay's dramatic political shift following the Trinamool Congress' heavy defeat in the Assembly elections. He joined the camp of 20 dissident parliamentarians who later joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), extending support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
While Sudip switched political allegiance, his wife Nayana Bandyopadhyay has remained with the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee-led camp, which is also called the ‘Kalighat TMC’, was seen on the party's July 21 Martyrs' Day stage. During the programme, both Kunal Ghosh and Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee publicly criticised Sudip despite Nayana's presence.
