In a dramatic political development following the chaotic scenes at football legend Lionel Messi's event in Kolkata, West Bengal's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Aroop Biswas, has offered to resign from the state cabinet. The senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader submitted his resignation on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, taking moral responsibility for the severe mismanagement that marred the Argentine superstar's 'G.O.A.T India Tour 2025' at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13.
The Resignation Letter and Its Contents
The news of the minister's decision became public after TMC's chief spokesperson, Kunal Ghosh, shared an image on his official Facebook page. Ghosh described the image as a copy of the handwritten resignation letter submitted by Aroop Biswas. In the letter, the minister expressed his desire to be relieved from his ministerial post.
The core reason cited in the letter was to ensure a "free and fair investigation" into the incidents of mismanagement during the high-profile event. Biswas has faced massive criticism and public flak for the organizational failures that led to chaos, security lapses, and inconvenience to thousands of fans who had gathered to see Lionel Messi.
Questions Over the Letter's Formal Status
However, the copy of the resignation letter shared by the TMC leader has sparked questions within political circles regarding its formal status. As reported by the news agency PTI, the letter was not written on the minister's official letterhead, raising doubts about the procedural formalities of the submission.
This detail has led to speculation about the next steps and whether the resignation is a definitive political move or a symbolic gesture of accepting responsibility. There has been no immediate confirmation from the Chief Minister's office on whether the resignation has been accepted. The final decision rests with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Fallout from the Messi Event Mismanagement
The event, part of Lionel Messi's much-hyped India tour, was intended to be a celebration but quickly descended into chaos. Reports from the Salt Lake Stadium highlighted poor crowd management, inadequate security arrangements, and logistical nightmares that left fans frustrated.
As the minister directly overseeing sports and youth affairs in the state, Aroop Biswas bore the brunt of the public and political backlash. His offer to resign appears to be a direct consequence of the intense pressure and the need for accountability. The incident has put the spotlight on the administrative capabilities of the state government in handling large-scale international events.
The coming days will reveal whether this resignation marks the end of a political chapter or is a strategic pause amidst the controversy surrounding the "Messi mess" in Kolkata.
