In a significant political development from West Bengal, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expelled veteran leader and two-time Member of Parliament Bansa Gopal Chowdhury following allegations of sexual misconduct and moral degradation. The decision was made after the party’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) completed its investigation into a formal complaint filed by a woman CPI(M) leader from Murshidabad district.
The 65-year-old politician, once a prominent face of the CPI(M) in Bardhaman-Asansol industrial belt, has denied the allegations and accused his party rivals of orchestrating a conspiracy against him. Despite his denials, the party’s leadership acted swiftly, asserting its zero-tolerance policy towards such serious charges.
Allegations and internal probe
According to the complaint, Bansa Gopal Chowdhury allegedly sent obscene and inappropriate messages via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp after a discussion regarding internal party communication. The complainant, associated with the party mouthpiece in Murshidabad, said she provided her WhatsApp number to Bansa in an official context but later faced unsolicited and offensive messages.
In November 2024, she filed a formal complaint with the Murshidabad district unit, which led to an investigation by the party’s ICC. Following the committee’s recommendation, the West Bengal state CPI(M) leadership expelled Chowdhury in April 2025.
A senior CPI(M) leader remarked, “We may be electorally marginalised in Bengal today, but our principles remain strong. Such actions are intolerable within the party, no matter the leader’s stature.”
Political career of Bansa Gopal Chowdhury
Bansa began his political journey in the early 1980s with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) while studying economics at TDB College, Raniganj. His rapid rise through party ranks saw him replace the influential CITU leader Haradhan Roy and contest from the Raniganj Assembly constituency in 1987, which he won.
He held various portfolios in the Jyoti Basu cabinet, including Minister of State for Vocational Education and Technical Education Minister. Later, under Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s administration, he served as the Minister for Small and Cottage Industries from 2001 to 2006.
In parliamentary politics, he represented Asansol in the Lok Sabha, winning elections in 2005 and 2009. However, he lost his seat in 2014 to BJP’s Babul Supriyo, marking the start of his political decline.
Defiant response from Chowdhury
Reacting strongly to his expulsion, Bansa alleged that the charges were fabricated by internal party rivals aiming to oust him. “There is a section within the CPI(M) that has always worked against me. I was a hurdle in their attempt to align with BJP interests in Paschim Bardhaman,” he said.
He further claimed that some of his detractors had a dubious past, including arrests related to hospital corruption cases during Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s tenure.
Bansa also insisted that he had already expressed a desire to step down from active politics, citing a WhatsApp conversation with the party secretary. “I told him I didn’t feel comfortable anymore and that new leadership should take over. The expulsion came despite that,” he stated.
CPI(M)’s stand and political fallout
Party insiders suggest that Bansa’s expulsion signals the CPI(M)’s effort to clean house and uphold internal ethics, even if it risks losing influential figures. A CPI(M) district leader remarked, “We may not hold power now, but we won't compromise our values.”
Meanwhile, the development has added a new dimension to Bengal’s volatile political scene. Some within the party fear that expelled veterans like Bansa may find refuge in rival formations like the Trinamool Congress or the BJP, a pattern witnessed in recent years.
Conclusion
The expulsion of Bansa Gopal Chowdhury over allegations of sexual harassment is both a significant ethical stand by CPI(M) and a major blow to a former stalwart of Bengal’s Left movement. With political realignments happening across the state, the incident may reshape dynamics in the Paschim Bardhaman region and beyond as the state gears up for upcoming elections.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and more breaking news from West Bengal politics.