Manoj Tiwary exposes TMC govt: 'Given lollipop as MoS, no real work'
Synopsis
Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary, a sitting TMC MLA, has gone public with explosive allegations against his own party's government — claiming he was handed a powerless MoS post as a political prop, blocked from executing a ₹5 crore Yohan Blake sports initiative despite a ₹700 crore unutilised budget, and repeatedly humiliated by Sports Minister Aroop Biswas.
Key Takeaways
Manoj Tiwary , TMC MLA and former Minister of State for Sports in West Bengal , publicly accused the Mamata Banerjee -led government of sidelining him on Wednesday .
Tiwary alleged that Sports Minister Aroop Biswas denied him any meaningful work in the sports department, calling his post a "lollipop." A proposed Centre of Excellence featuring Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake , costing ₹5 crore , was blocked despite a ₹700 crore sports budget reportedly left unutilised.
Tiwary alleged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dismissed him with the words: "Don't I have anything else to do?" when he sought her time after a Cabinet meeting.
He linked the chaotic Lionel Messi event in Kolkata to systemic mismanagement under Biswas, saying he had anticipated the fiasco.
Former India cricketer and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Manoj Tiwary on Wednesday publicly accused the outgoing West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of sidelining him, making
Point of View
Which raises questions about timing and intent. Yet the specifics he cites — a ₹700 crore sports budget left unused while a ₹5 crore proposal was killed — are verifiable claims that deserve scrutiny beyond the personal drama. West Bengal has long struggled to retain sporting talent, and if a sitting MoS could not secure even a basic Centre of Excellence, that is a governance failure with real consequences for athletes. The Messi event debacle, already a matter of public record, lends Tiwary's broader narrative credibility that pure political defection rhetoric would not.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manoj Tiwary allege against the West Bengal government?
Manoj Tiwary alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government used him as a political prop, giving him a powerless Minister of State for Sports post with no real authority. He claimed Sports Minister Aroop Biswas blocked all his initiatives and that his letters to the Chief Minister went unanswered.
What was the Yohan Blake Centre of Excellence proposal?
Tiwary proposed bringing Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake to West Bengal to launch a Centre of Excellence for athletes, at a cost of ₹5 crore. He alleged the proposal was rejected by Sports Minister Aroop Biswas despite the state having a ₹700 crore sports budget that was left unutilised.
What did Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly say to Manoj Tiwary?
According to Tiwary, when he approached Mamata Banerjee personally after a Cabinet meeting to discuss sports initiatives, she replied: "Don't I have anything else to do?" He alleged she consistently directed him back to Sports Minister Aroop Biswas without resolution.
How is the Lionel Messi Kolkata event connected to Tiwary's allegations?
Tiwary alleged that the chaotic Messi event in Kolkata — widely criticised for severe mismanagement that prevented fans from seeing the footballer properly — was a direct result of Aroop Biswas's handling of sports administration. Tiwary said he had anticipated the fiasco and chose not to attend.
Why did Manoj Tiwary enter politics?
Tiwary said he entered politics in 2021 to help people and to ensure that the injustices he personally experienced in the sports field were not repeated with other athletes. He had reportedly refused to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections before eventually joining the TMC for the state assembly polls.
