TMC show-causes 5 spokespersons on charges of making adverse comments against party

The notices -- served to Riju Dutta, Krishnendu Chowdhury, Kohinoor Majumdar, Papiya Ghosh and Kartik Ghosh -- were asked why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for violating party discipline. The notices were issued by the partys disciplinary committee, he said.

The TMC has issued show-cause notices to five of its spokespersons for allegedly making anti-party comments following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections, a source said on Friday. The notices -- served to Riju Dutta, Krishnendu Chowdhury, Kohinoor Majumdar, Papiya Ghosh and Kartik Ghosh -- were asked why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for ''violating party discipline.'' The notices were issued by the party's disciplinary committee, he said. The move comes in the wake of the party's poor performance in the recently concluded assembly elections, where the TMC won 80 seats while the BJP secured 207 seats. Following the electoral setback, several party leaders, former MLAs and spokespersons publicly questioned the role of the top leadership, triggering internal discontent within the party. TMC spokesperson Kohinoor Majumdar had told the media, ''Party leaders had to wait for hours to meet the TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.'' Senior Malda TMC leader Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury also criticised Abhishek's way of functioning. TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta also praised the BJP's measures to curb post-poll violence in a social media post. Similarly, Papiya Ghosh and Kartik Ghosh also spoke out against the party leadership. Ghosh is the daughter of senior Cooch Behar TMC leader Rabindranath Ghosh, who too criticised Abhishek publicly, although no show-cause notice has been issued to him so far. The notice further stated that if no reply is received within the stipulated time, the party will proceed with further action. TMC leaders Derek Obrien and Chandrima Bhattacharya said they won't speak on the issue.