The internal strife within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has reached a boiling point ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections. Tapan Chatterjee, the sitting MLA from Bardhaman North, has launched a blistering attack on the party’s strategic partner, I-PAC. In a sensational claim, Chatterjee alleged that I-PAC representatives demanded ₹20 lakhs from him in exchange for confirming his candidacy. He asserted that only those who fulfilled this financial demand managed to secure a spot on the party’s candidate list.

The controversy erupted after the TMC nominated Basundhara Goswami for the Bardhaman North seat, dropping the veteran leader. Furious over the exclusion, Chatterjee stated, “I told them clearly that I am an honest politician and do not have that kind of money to buy a ticket. Today, the results are out, and it’s clear that those who paid got the chance.” This open rebellion has put the TMC leadership in a tight spot, especially as they emphasize transparency in candidate selection.

While the TMC has officially maintained silence on these allegations, the opposition parties have seized the opportunity to target the ruling dispensation. BJP and the Left Front claimed that Chatterjee’s outburst exposes the “corporate and corrupt” culture that has taken deep roots within the TMC. As Tapan Chatterjee contemplates his next move—potentially contesting as an independent—this “ticket-for-cash” allegation threatens to derail the party’s campaign narrative in several key constituencies.