Susanta Ghosh is an Indian politician belonging to CPI(M). He was a state cabinet minister of West Bengal in the Government of West Bengal for a long time and was the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Garbeta from 1987 to 2016. In the 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1987 state assembly elections, he won the 220 Garbeta East assembly seat. Political career and controversies Ghosh emerged as a CPM leader in an era of violent politics in several areas of rural Bengal and is a known "hardliner" face across the state. Ghosh's area of West Midnapore district has long been the hub of violence directed against members of the political opposed parties. Ghosh was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Garbeta East Assembly Constituency in a by election. He continued to win successive elections from the same constituency until 2011. In 2011, he contested from the newly created Garbeta Assembly Constituency and was returned to the assembly with an over 20,000 vote margin. This is significant as he was one of the seven Left Front ministers from the outgoing cabinet to be re-elected out of 44. Left Front, which has ruled West Bengal from 1977 to 2011, faced a drubbing and was reduced to 62 from 235 in a house of 294. Despite his re-election, he was sidelined in CPI(M) due to his alleged associations with criminal cases and court-induced ban on his entry in his own district. At this time he was also in the minority in the party, which was under control of "soft-liners". In 2020, he was also suspended for three months from the party on accusations of indiscipline. The party had initially decided to expel him, however, in the face of severe protests from youth leaders the punishment was reduced. He returned to Garbeta in December 2020 after his suspension was lifted. He contested 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections from Salboni Assembly constituency, but was defeated. On 17 February 2022, he was elected as District Secretary of Paschim Medinipur unit of CPI(M). He was elected to the West Bengal state committee of CPI(M). Inflammatory speeches In November 2010, Ghosh was himself in the news for suggesting that the CPI(M) cadres should beat up Trinamool workers ("Prem noy, oder pyadani din.", No love, just thrash them). Political controversies In 2002, seven Trinamool Congress workers went missing from Keshpur in West Midnapore. While two bodies