Panihati Sporting Club Takeover Row Involves BJP MLA Ratna Debnath

Control of Club

A dispute over the 127-year-old Panihati Sporting Club has erupted between BJP MLA Ratna Debnath and the club's members. The controversy began when Ratna, whose late doctor daughter was the victim in the RG Kar case, arrived at the club for a Bijoya Sammilani event on Saturday and found the gates locked. She subsequently returned on Sunday with her husband Sekhar Debnath and took the key from a staff member named Robin Mandal, stating that the former secretary had handed over responsibility to her until a new committee is formed. Around 600 children have been left unable to practice at the ground due to the standoff.

Allegations and Reactions

Club members and officials have accused the MLA of trying to forcefully take over the institution and seize control of the grounds. Tapon Das, a club member, stated that the sudden taking of the key violates rules and disrespects the organization. Another member, Arun Roychowdhury, alleged that former secretary Raja Ball (also referred to as Rajarshi Ball) was physically beaten and forced to resign under threat, a claim supported by local accounts of the former secretary being confronted by people demanding control of the field. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh criticized Ratna's involvement in the dispute, while CPM leader Koltania Dasgupta alleged that former TMC members now in the BJP are trying to control local institutions. Parents like Arpita Dutta expressed concern that children's sports are being disrupted by politics.

Context

Local sports clubs in West Bengal often serve as community hubs with significant local influence, making their management a frequent flashpoint for political rivalry. Such disputes typically arise when local power dynamics shift, drawing in elected representatives and political parties who vie for control over community spaces and institutions.