Santanu Sen quits TMC All-India Spokesperson post after Bengal poll rout
Synopsis
A Trinamool Congress leader who was once suspended for speaking out on the RG Kar rape-murder case has now resigned as the party's All-India Spokesperson — citing the same case and election results as his reason. With BJP winning 208 seats to TMC's 80, Santanu Sen's exit signals a widening post-poll fracture inside Mamata Banerjee's party.
Key Takeaways
Santanu Sen resigned as Trinamool Congress All-India Spokesperson on 28 May , writing to party chief Mamata Banerjee .
Sen cited the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case and recruitment scams as reasons voters rejected the party.
The BJP won 208 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections; Trinamool was reduced to 80 seats .
Sen had previously been suspended in 2024 for raising corruption concerns linked to the RG Kar case, before being reinstated.
Days before resigning, Sen publicly congratulated new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari — a move that unsettled the Trinamool leadership.
It is not yet confirmed whether Banerjee has accepted his resignation.
Trinamool Congress leader and physician Santanu Sen resigned from the party's All-India Spokesperson post on Thursday, 28 May, sending a formal letter to Trinamool supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Sen cited the party's crushing defeat in the state Assembly elections and his inability to defend what he described as 'immoral acts' as his reasons for stepping down.
What Santanu Sen Said
In his resignation letter, Sen was candid about the moral cost of his role. 'I had to support many immoral acts as the party spokesperson. Even if my heart did not agree, I had to do all of them,' he wrote. He added that the election results — which saw the Trinamool Congress reduced to 80 seats against the Bharatiya Janata Party's 208 seats — reflected public rejection of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case fallout, as well as recruitment scams. 'People should take that verdict seriously. That is why I resigned,' he said.
In his letter to Banerjee, Sen also acknowledged his long association with the party: 'I have been working as a loyal soldier of the Trinamool since its birth. I have tried to work with sincerity whenever the party needed me.'
Background: The RG Kar Case and Prior Suspension
Sen's relationship with the Trinamool Congress has been turbulent. In 2024, following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Sen publicly raised concerns about hospital corruption. The party suspended him at the time for making what it termed anti-party statements and stripped him of the spokesperson role. He was later reinstated. His resignation now marks the second time he has vacated the position — this time, reportedly on his own terms.
The Congratulatory Post That Raised Eyebrows
Days before his resignation, Sen posted a note on social media congratulating the newly-elected BJP government in West Bengal and thanking incoming Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The gesture caused visible discomfort within the Trinamool. On Wednesday, Sen went further, publicly stating he was willing to assist the new government in investigating the RG Kar incident — a stance that placed him directly at odds with his own party's position.
Post-Poll Unrest Within Trinamool
Sen's exit is part of a broader pattern of internal dissent that has gripped the Trinamool Congress since the election debacle. Leaders across the party have begun speaking out openly, acknowledging that voters were alienated by allegations of institutional corruption and extortion. The BJP's single-majority win — 208 seats to Trinamool's 80 — has accelerated the reckoning. It remains unclear as of Thursday whether Banerjee has formally accepted Sen's resignation.
With more Trinamool voices breaking ranks, the coming weeks will test whether the party can contain its internal fractures or faces a deeper organisational crisis in the opposition.
Point of View
The scale of the defeat leaves little room for managed narratives. What is unfolding is not ordinary post-election grumbling; it is a credibility crisis for a party that spent years conflating loyalty with complicity. Whether Mamata Banerjee can rebuild authority over a fractured cadre — without the levers of state power — is the defining question for the Trinamool's future as an opposition force.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Santanu Sen resign as Trinamool Congress spokesperson?
Santanu Sen resigned citing his inability to defend what he called 'immoral acts' carried out during his tenure as spokesperson, including issues linked to the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case and recruitment scams. He stated the Assembly election results — which saw Trinamool reduced to 80 seats — reflected public rejection of these issues.
What is the RG Kar Medical College case?
The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case refers to the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the Kolkata institution in 2024. The incident triggered widespread protests and became a major political flashpoint in West Bengal, with critics targeting the then-ruling Trinamool Congress government over its handling of hospital administration and the investigation.
What were the West Bengal Assembly election results?
The Bharatiya Janata Party won 208 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections, securing a single-party majority, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 seats — a significant setback for Mamata Banerjee's party.
Has Mamata Banerjee accepted Santanu Sen's resignation?
As of 28 May, it was not confirmed whether Mamata Banerjee had formally accepted Santanu Sen's resignation. Sen sent a letter to the Trinamool supremo, but the party had not publicly responded to it.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari?
Suvendu Adhikari is the newly elected Chief Minister of West Bengal following the BJP's victory in the state Assembly elections. Sen's social media post congratulating Adhikari drew sharp attention within Trinamool ranks, given that Adhikari was once a senior Trinamool leader before switching to the BJP.
