Kolkata, Dec. 14 -- The much-anticipated appearance of football superstar Lionel Messi in Kolkata turned chaotic on Sunday, sparking a political row, with Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar accusing the West Bengal government of mismanagement.

Majumdar alleged that the event was hijacked by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, claiming that both the organisers and those surrounding Messi were linked to the ruling party.

Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, "This is the mismanagement of the West Bengal government... The organisers were people from TMC itself, and now TMC is trying to show that they are separate, but they are not; both are the same. TMC leaders were present there, and they tried to hijack this event. Whoever was around Messi, all of...