Kolkata, May 24: Shantanu Sen, a former Rajya Sabha member from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has extended his congratulations to the newly formed BJP government and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
In a social media post on Saturday night, he praised the new government for its initiatives in the health sector.
Sen was previously a member of the TMC but faced allegations of making anti-party comments during the RG movement, leading to his suspension from the party. His recent post congratulating the BJP has stirred unrest within TMC.
In his post, Sen, who is a long-time advocate in the medical movement and currently serves as the All India President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Secretary of the Bengal state branch, expressed gratitude to the newly elected BJP government for launching various health and welfare projects in Bengal.
He had previously supported the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement, which sought justice for a female doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Medical College and Hospital. His wife was also seen standing in solidarity with protesting junior doctors. Additionally, he raised allegations of corruption within the hospital administration.
Following significant uproar over his comments, Sen lost his position as a TMC spokesperson. The TMC’s disciplinary committee suspended him due to accusations of anti-party activities.
Sen was considered close to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. Even after his suspension, he played a crucial role in an event held in Diamond Harbour, managing everything from securing doctors to overseeing the program. He also played a significant role in another event held in Nandigram. As the 2026 assembly elections approached, TMC announced the lifting of his suspension, reinstating him as a spokesperson.
With the political landscape shifting in the state, there are speculations that Sen aimed to send a message to the party by acknowledging his position in the IMA and congratulating Suvendu Adhikari.
In response, TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty stated that Sen’s Facebook post was made in his capacity as an IMA official, not as a former MP or party spokesperson, and he is free to express his views.
It’s noteworthy that the BJP formed its government in West Bengal for the first time after winning 207 seats in the assembly elections.
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