Trinamool Congress’s nearly Rs 100-crore expenditure on aircraft and helicopter rentals over two financial years has triggered a fresh political storm within the party, intensifying existing fault lines at a critical political juncture. According to the audit report submitted to the Election Commission of India, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) spent Rs 56.33 crore on air travel in 2023–24 and Rs 37.34 crore in 2024–25, taking the total to Rs 93.68 crore.
For a regional party, such spending is unprecedented.
The disclosures have gained added significance amid allegations surrounding Abhishek Banerjee’s frequent chartered flights between Delhi and Kolkata, which have reportedly created a “volcano” of unrest within the party.
Financial data from the report reveals a worrying trend. While the party’s total income in 2024–25 stood at Rs 219.35 crore, its expenditure exceeded Rs 227.59 crore, resulting in a deficit of Rs 8.24 crore. This marks a dramatic shift from the previous fiscal year, when the party had reported a surplus of Rs 414.91 crore.
The primary cause behind this reversal appears to be a sharp decline in donations. Contributions fell steeply from Rs 618.08 crore in 2023–24 to Rs 184.08 crore in 2024–25. Political analysts link this drop to the scrapping of the electoral bond scheme following a directive by the Supreme Court of India. Prior to its abolition, the party had received approximately Rs 1,610 crore through electoral bonds over three years.
The 2024–25 fiscal year coincided with the Lok Sabha elections, during which TMC’s total election expenditure stood at Rs 137.58 crore. Notably, nearly 27 per cent of this amount was spent on air travel alone — indicating that more than one out of every four rupees was directed towards aircraft and helicopter usage. Despite the reported deficit, the party’s financial reserves remain substantial. As of March 31, 2025, TMC held approximately Rs 625 crore in bank accounts, with total assets amounting to Rs 681.12 crore, including fixed deposits worth Rs 250.77 crore.
However, these figures have sparked fresh controversy within dissenting factions, particularly those aligned with the Ritabrata Bandipadhyay camp, who allege discrepancies between declared assets and current financial realities. Demands for a more detailed audit have grown louder in the past weeks.
The issue has also highlighted a widening disconnect between the party leadership and grassroots workers. Reports of workers struggling to afford legal expenses, including bail, have contrasted sharply with the scale of spending on air travel. A senior South Kolkata leader and former minister is said to have raised this concern in the presence of party supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Meanwhile, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh has countered rebel claims, questioning why defectors failed to raise concerns when accepting party funds during elections. Nevertheless, the official figures have provided critics with fresh ammunition.
As internal tensions escalate, the controversy over what critics term an “aerial extravagance” is likely to deepen the political and psychological divide within the party.