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Election2026
Aroop Biswas trails behind BJP's Papia Adhikari. Photo: Aroop Biswas/Facebook

Ex-Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, embroiled in Messi event row, trails in Tollygunge

| @indiablooms | May 04, 2026, at 06:59 pm

Kolkata/IBNS: Outgoing West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas, who had courted controversy over the Lionel Messi event last year, is trailing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Papia Adhikari in the Assembly election trends.

Biswas is currently behind by over 3,000 votes.

The minister had faced backlash during the high-profile event at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, where Argentine football icon Lionel Messi was visiting.

The controversy erupted after spectators alleged that access and visibility were restricted, triggering protests and disorder inside the stadium.

Following the incident and the ensuing row, Biswas stepped down as the state’s Sports Minister.

Across West Bengal, the BJP has surged ahead, leading in over 200 seats, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has dropped to around 80 seats, according to trends.

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