Party top brass intervenes after controversy over threatening audio clip; strict warning issued to maintain unity.

In a stern message to prevent internal discord ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the top leadership of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) held a closed-door meeting on Saturday with senior party leader Anubrata Mondal and his intra-party rival Kajal Sheikh. The meeting, convened at the party’s Bhabanipur office, comes in the backdrop of a recent controversy involving Mondal allegedly threatening a police officer over the phone.

Audio Threat Controversy Triggers Intervention

The high-level meeting was called weeks after a purported audio clip surfaced in which Anubrata Mondal was allegedly heard using abusive and threatening language while speaking to a police inspector. The clip drew sharp public attention and led to an FIR being registered against Mondal by the Birbhum district police. The incident reignited concerns within the TMC about its image and the brewing factional tensions in Birbhum, where both Mondal and Kajal Sheikh command influence.

Strict Warning Against Public Spats

According to sources, senior TMC leaders including state party president Subrata Bakshi, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, and Sports Minister Aroop Biswas were present at the meeting. Both Mondal and Sheikh were categorically told that public altercations or statements against each other would no longer be tolerated. The leadership warned that repeated violations would invite strict disciplinary measures.

A senior TMC insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Whenever Anubrata and Kajal make public remarks, controversies follow. The party has likely asked them to maintain silence until the elections to avoid further embarrassment.”
Mondal, who is currently on bail in connection with multiple cases, was specifically urged to remain composed and avoid any further provocative acts that could damage the party’s public image or invite legal trouble.

Leaders Tight-Lipped Post Meeting

Neither Mondal nor Kajal Sheikh offered any comments following the meeting. The party’s top brass, including Subrata Bakshi and Firhad Hakim, also refrained from briefing the media, indicating that the leadership prefers to deal with internal matters discreetly as it prepares for a crucial political season.

Focus on July 21 and Mass Outreach

The meeting also served as a preparatory session for TMC’s annual July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally. Bakshi directed all district presidents and municipal chairpersons to begin immediate mass outreach efforts across villages, blocks, and urban municipalities. The aim, according to insiders, is to mobilize public support, counter the BJP’s “communal narrative,” and highlight what the party perceives as the central government’s “discriminatory policies” toward Bengal.
TMC aims for a record turnout at the July 21 rally, a platform it plans to use to demonstrate unity and strength ahead of the upcoming electoral battle.