Kolkata: Former Rajya Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Santanu Sen on Thursday resigned as the party's national spokesperson, citing moral discomfort over defending controversies linked to the outfit, including the RG Kar rape and murder case and allegations of corruption.
The resignation comes amid growing dissent within the TMC following its heavy defeat in the recent Assembly elections, with several leaders publicly criticising the party's functioning and organisational culture.
Sen, a doctor-turned-politician and councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), submitted his resignation to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, saying he could no longer justify publicly defending issues that had distanced the party from ordinary people.
"Accepting the people's verdict, I have decided to resign from the post of national spokesperson," Sen wrote in his resignation letter. He, however, clarified that he was not leaving the party.
In the letter, Sen said that although he had remained a "loyal soldier" of the TMC since its inception, his conscience no longer allowed him to defend controversies surrounding the party.
"In several difficult situations, even when my conscience did not agree, I fought publicly for the party in television debates and media platforms and had to face criticism from common people," he wrote.
"But now, when people have rejected us over the RG Kar incident, job scam and various unethical acts and corruption, my conscience no longer permits me to support these as a spokesperson," he added.
The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital controversy has emerged as one of the most damaging political crises faced by the TMC in recent years.
The rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at the state-run hospital last year sparked widespread protests across West Bengal and triggered sustained outrage among doctors, students and civil society groups.
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Allegations of institutional corruption and attempts to suppress dissent further intensified criticism of the government and the ruling party.
Sen, himself a former student and doctor associated with RG Kar, was among the few TMC leaders who publicly raised concerns over alleged irregularities at the institution after the incident.
His remarks had reportedly embarrassed the party leadership, leading to his suspension for "anti-party activities" and removal from the spokesperson's post before he was reinstated months later.
Following the recent change of government in West Bengal, Sen congratulated the new BJP government and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on social media, causing unease within TMC circles.
On Wednesday, he further escalated tensions by publicly offering cooperation to the new administration in any investigation linked to the RG Kar rape-murder case.
"I remained silent for a long time because of concerns about my daughter's career. Now she has become a doctor herself, and I have no more hesitation," Sen said while levelling allegations against former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and others associated with the institution.
He also referred to the alleged influence of a "North Bengal lobby" within the state's health administration, remarks seen by political observers as an indirect criticism of entrenched networks within the former ruling establishment.
Sen's resignation is the latest in a series of public expressions of dissent that have unsettled the TMC leadership.
On Wednesday, party spokesperson and TMC councillor Arup Chakraborty resigned from his position in the KMC's public accounts committee before also stepping down as party spokesperson.
Another councillor, Sushanta Ghosh, resigned as borough chairman, while Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar recently stepped down from all organisational posts and openly criticised sections of the party leadership.
Several TMC leaders have also publicly admitted that allegations of corruption, extortion and administrative arrogance contributed to the party's electoral defeat - a rare acknowledgement within the tightly controlled organisation.
Reacting to Sen's resignation, TMC leader Biswajit Deb blamed the party's top leadership and election strategists for the crisis.
"This party will break into pieces very soon. So much institutional corruption took place - can anyone believe that Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee knew nothing?" Deb said.
He also criticised political consultancy firm I-PAC, alleging that excessive dependence on strategists had alienated grassroots workers.
"Everything had to be routed through I-PAC. Grassroots workers felt ignored and humiliated. The disconnect between the leadership and workers kept growing," he claimed.
The TMC leadership has not yet issued an official response to Sen's resignation.