TMC denied me ticket after I refused to pay Rs 5 crore: Ex-cricketer Manoj Tiwary

A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) was routed in West Bengal Assembly elections, outgoing MLA Manoj Tiwary has alleged that the party denied him a ticket for refusing to pay Rs 5 crore.

Former India cricketer Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and three T20Is, said the "TMC chapter is over" for him. He was not given a ticket by the party from Howrah's Shibpur constituency.

‘Not surprised by TMC’s debacle’

The 40-year-old, who is the highest run-getter in the history of Bengal cricket (10,195 first-class runs) was a Minister of State for Sports in the government led by Mamata Banerjee, whose 15-year tenure ended with a BJP sweep of the Assembly elections on Monday (May 4).

Also read: From domestic help to MLA: Rise of Bengal's Kalita Majhi

"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 told PTI on Tuesday.

"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. Just check how many of those who paid up have managed to win," he said.

"As far as TMC is concerned, that chapter is over (for me)," he declared.

Mamata Banerjee’s call

Tiwary said he had no intention of joining politics even though he was offered a Lok Sabha ticket by TMC back in 2019. He eventually relented by contesting and winning from Shibpur in 2021 Assembly polls.

"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 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'. I was asked to contest from Shibpur and I thought that I could make a meaningful change," Tiwary recalled.

Tiwary alleged that Trinamool Congress lacks internal democracy. "I have attended meetings where all TMC ministers were summoned. Now I was given a Lollypop called MoS which basically meant nothing. If I stood up and said 'Didi I want to draw your attention to a certain problem', she would just stop us midway and say 'I don't have time for you people'."

'Just lip service'

Tiwary said the longstanding issue of failing sewage and drainage systems in Howrah district was not addressed despite his repeated efforts.

"Being a sitting MLA, I would run from pillar to post for drainage work in my constituency but people who controlled Howrah Municipality for years without allowing elections to happen, never cared.

"They would simply stall developmental work which is very basic. I can tell you that some of the work that I got done was not just from MLA fund but also I paid from my own pocket to complete projects.

"Every year Didi would announce a Master Plan for upgradation of underground drainage system but that was it, just lip service," he said.