Sudip Bandyopadhyay Poster Row has sparked a political storm in Kolkata after offensive posters targeting the rebel MP appeared with the names of Kunal Ghosh and Tapas Roy. Both leaders have denied any involvement, fuelling fresh political speculation.
Sudip Poster Row Intensifies Amid Denials from Kunal Ghosh and Tapas Roy
By Qalam Times News Network
Dateline: Kolkata | July 28, 2026
KOLKATA: Sudip Bandyopadhyay Poster Row has erupted into a major political controversy after a series of offensive posters targeting rebel Member of Parliament Sudip Bandyopadhyay surfaced across several parts of North Kolkata. The posters contained abusive language directed at the veteran politician and unexpectedly carried the names of Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh and BJP MLA and State Minister Tapas Roy as the alleged campaigners. Both leaders have categorically denied any involvement, while the incident has triggered fresh political speculation in West Bengal.
The posters featured Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s photograph alongside an insulting slogan aimed at him. The most striking aspect of the campaign was the inclusion of the names “Kunal Ghosh” and “Tapas Roy” as the promoters. However, the posters did not specify whether they referred to the well-known legislators. Even so, the Sudip Bandyopadhyay Poster Row has generated widespread discussion because both Kunal Ghosh and Tapas Roy have publicly criticised the North Kolkata MP on several occasions in recent years.
Responding to the controversy, Kunal Ghosh rejected any suggestion that he was connected with the posters. He stated that the “Kunal Ghosh” mentioned in the campaign was not him and that he had no role in printing or displaying the posters. At the same time, he remarked that he agreed with the political message conveyed in the posters, although he said he could not confirm whether the “Tapas Roy” mentioned referred to the BJP legislator.
Tapas Roy also denied any involvement in the incident. He pointed out that had the posters intended to identify him, they would have described him as a minister. While distancing himself from the campaign, Roy reiterated his long-standing criticism of Sudip Bandyopadhyay, claiming that many residents of North Kolkata had become dissatisfied with the veteran politician and that opposition to him had existed for years.
The controversial posters were first noticed on Monday evening at several prominent locations within Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s parliamentary constituency, including Taltala Bus Stand, Bangabasi College, Creek Row and the area near the Railway Cooperative Bank. Despite the widespread attention the posters have received, no individual or organisation has claimed responsibility, and the identity of those behind the campaign remains unknown.
The appearance of both Kunal Ghosh’s and Tapas Roy’s names has added another political dimension to the controversy. Although they now belong to rival political parties, both leaders have consistently criticised Sudip Bandyopadhyay in public. Tapas Roy has previously described him as a “white elephant” in North Kolkata politics, while Kunal Ghosh has repeatedly targeted him through sharp political and personal remarks. Their names appearing together on the posters have therefore fuelled speculation over the motive behind the campaign.
The controversy also comes against the backdrop of major political realignments in West Bengal. Following the Trinamool Congress’ disappointing performance in the Assembly elections, Sudip Bandyopadhyay joined the group of twenty rebel Trinamool MPs and was chosen to lead the faction. The group later joined the Nationalist Congress of Progressive India (NCPI) and announced its support for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Despite Sudip’s departure from the Trinamool Congress, his wife, Nayana Bandyopadhyay, continues to remain with the party as the MLA from Chowringhee and was recently seen attending the Trinamool’s July 21 programme.
Political attacks against Sudip Bandyopadhyay have continued even after his shift to the NDA camp. Leaders from both his former party and rival political groups have repeatedly questioned his political decisions and leadership. Against this backdrop, the emergence of the posters has once again brought the veteran parliamentarian into the centre of political debate in North Kolkata.
With both Kunal Ghosh and Tapas Roy denying any connection to the posters, the identity of those responsible remains a mystery. Unless an official investigation establishes who designed and circulated the campaign, the Sudip Bandyopadhyay Poster Row is expected to remain a significant talking point in West Bengal politics.