Anti-incumbency led to defeat of several ministers in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the recent assembly elections. Among them, two ministers in West Bengal and one in Kerala lost largely because of football legend Lionel Messi.
Minister V. Abdurahiman loses in Kerala
In Kerala's Tirur, Sports Minister and CPI(M) candidate V. Abdurahiman lost to IUML's Kurukkoli Moideen by a margin of 24,137 votes. Moideen secured 1,06,108 votes while Abdurahiman polled 81,971 votes.
How did Lionel Messi impact V. Abdurahiman's poll prospects?
Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman had assured the football fans in the state that Lionel Messi-led Argentina team would play a major international friendly in Kerala in October 2025 and that a government-appointed sponsor had transferred the match fee of $16 million to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) with RBI approval.
However, in April, Abdurahiman alleged that Messi and the Argentina team failed to honour the contract to visit the state. Calling it a "betrayal", he said, "The failure to arrive lies entirely with the team and not with the government."
The issue sparked a political controversy in Tirur constituency where he contested elections. However, the minister maintained that the issue has not influenced public opinion.
Ministers Sujit Bose and Aroop Biswas defeated in West Bengal
BJP's Sharadwat Mukherjee defeated TMC minister Sujit Bose in Bidhannagar by 37,330 votes. Mukherjee won 97,979 votes against 60,649 votes secured by Bose.
Former Power and Housing Minister Aroop Biswas was defeated in Tollyganj by BJP candidate Papiya Adhikari by 6,013 votes.
How did Lionel Messi impact poll prospects of Aroop Biswas and Sujit Bose?
Aroop stepped down as Sports Minister following a controversy surrounding the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata amid allegations of mismanagement and security lapses at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025. Biswas was seen hugging Messi while his family members were seen taking photographs with him during the event. However, fans who paid between Rs 5,000 and Rs 16,000 per ticket, were enraged after they were not able to see Messi properly from the gallery. Many of them hurled chairs and damaged tents and other properties in the stadium.
Minister Sujit Bose, who was president of Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, was behind the massive 70-foot iron statue of Messi holding the World Cup. Many alleged that Bose hijacked the actual stadium event with the statue unveiling, leading to early departure of Messi amid overcrowding.
Bose was also accused of crowding the pitch with their families and aides. This allegedly blocked the view for the fans who were forced to watch the event on giant screens. There were also allegations that the organisers charged exorbitant prices for basic amenities, such as Rs 200 for a water bottle.
