Out Tuesday came Manoj Tiwari’s sharp claims about the TMC, once his own party. A past player for India, also lately a lawmaker under Mamata Banerjee’s banner, he now steps away. Speaking with PTI, he called it finished – his path there closed. His reason? He would not hand over five crore rupees to keep contesting from Shibpur in Howrah. Because of that refusal, no nomination arrived. Then Wednesday hit, followed by another clip posted online. Across platforms, he rolled out fresh footage, peeling back layers on days spent as junior minister for sports and youth matters in Bengal.
Five years back, things started getting tough for what I do. This story matters. Blocked by Aroup Biswas – he’s with TMC, once held a ministry post – every move slowed down. Sports shaped where I began, aimed high there. Sharing it now feels necessary. Tea and biscuits filled my time instead of playing sports. Working was not allowed, they saw to that, Tiwary said.
Out of reach now, those dreams to support gifted young athletes across track, soccer, and more. Strong facilities were on my mind when things shifted sideways. Instead of backing growth, their aim was blocking mine. With ties I’d built, arrangements came together – Yohan Blake, globally known sprinter, ready to launch an elite training hub in West Bengal. Then silence after Aroup Biswas said no. Just five crore rupees would have been enough to get him here. Instead, seven hundred crores meant for sports vanished into nothing. That moment left me feeling crushed
Tiwary claimed Aroop Biswas felt uneasy around him, especially after stepping down as West Bengal’s sports minister post the Messi incident – when the star exited Yuva Bharati Krirangan sooner than expected due to safety concerns.
Later came silence – no one called me for anything. There I stood at the Durand Cup ground, yet doors stayed shut; Aroop Biswas could not stand how I looked. Missing Messi’s day followed slights piling up again and again. Unease crept in, like a storm before thunder. Recall those moments when fans across the state hung their heads – all thanks to Aroop Biswas. That moment sticks in everyone’s mind – the one with Messi. He walked out after only five to ten minutes, all down to Aroup Biswas, claimed Manoj Tiwari.
Picture five years inside the Sports Department. What happens, happens for a reason, maybe even a better one. That limited crew in charge? Gone now. Their loyalty sat with their own pockets, never with people. So much needed fixing in Shibpur, something I kept stressing, louder each time, right there in cabinet talks. After one such meeting, bringing it up again with the Chief Minister, she snapped back at me, “Can’t you see I’m busy?” Not even twenty seconds let me speak before cutting off. Built on empty words, that rule felt hollow. That moment showed clearly – this setup had no staying power
