Tiwary also called state sports minister Aroop Biswas insecure.
Tiwary, who represented India in 15 international matches, served as Minister of State for Sports in Mamata Banerjee's administration. The BJP won the most recent Assembly elections on Monday, ending Banerjee's 15-year rule.
"Look, I am not at all surprised by this debacle. This was bound to happen when an entire party indulged in corrupt practices, and there was no development in any sector. Only those who could pay hefty amounts could buy tickets. At least 70-72 candidates this time paid around Rs 5 crore to get a ticket. I was asked, but I refused to pay. Just check how many of those who paid up have managed to win. As far as TMC is concerned, that chapter is over for me," Tiwary told PTI.
Tiwary was offered a Lok Sabha ticket by TMC in 2019, and he refused to join politics due to his active cricket career. However, in 2021, he joined the TMC and won from Shibpur in the 2021 Assembly polls.
"At that time, I had played for the Punjab Kings in the IPL and was still playing the Ranji Trophy seriously when Didi (Mamata) wanted me to contest the Lok Sabha. I had politely declined, but before the 2021 elections, Didi once again called and told me, 'Manoj, I have a message for you, and Aroop will tell you. ' I was asked to contest from Shibpur, and I thought that I could make a meaningful change," Tiwary recalled.
He also accused the state cabinet minister for Sports Aroop Biswas of being insecure and alleged that Biswas did not allow him to perform his ministerial duties.
"Aroop da doesn't know the A, B, C, or D of any sport. There would be functions where both Aroop da and I were invited, and I would not be called to the dais. There was one Durand Cup unveiling where my pictures were flashed on sports pages, and from the next Durand Cup onward, I wouldn't get any invite," Tiwary alleged.
He further stated that he was glad he didn’t attend the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata, which turned into a "royal mess."
“I knew something like this would happen and refrained from attending the event. I didn't want to be part of a program where common people were taken for a ride. I would repeatedly ask Aroop da, 'Dada, please introduce a sports policy as per the allocated budget. ' He never bothered," Tiwary said.
Tiwary, who is currently an expert with a cricket website and passed his BCCI Level 2 Coaches Examination, aspires to be the head coach of Bengal's Ranji team.
"The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) invited applications for the post of head coach. I have passed my BCCI Level 2 exam with distinction and want to pursue serious coaching in the near future," he concluded.
(PTI inputs)