Singer Nachiketa, long known as a Trinamul supporter, has left the party squirming with a hard-hitting song calling for the return of “cut money” — a demand reverberating across swathes of Bengal.

“Kheyechhen jara cut money, dadara othoba didimoni/ Eshechhe shomoy, gotimoy, daant kyalatey kyalatey pherot din, ashchhe din, dakchhe din (Those who guzzled cut money, the worthies, it’s time to return it with a forced grin, that day is coming, that day is calling),” goes the first stanza of the song.

“Montri othoba amla, jonorosh ebarey shamla/ Tulbey chamra, oshadhu damra, batashey bajchhe rudrobeen (Minister or bureaucrat, now deal with the public anger; they’ll give you a hiding, dishonest bullies, the rudra veena is playing in the wind),” goes the second.

A video clip of Nachiketa singing the song has gone viral. The blow from a man who had been among the first from Bengal’s culture clan to express support for Mamata Banerjee a little over a decade ago comes at an awkward time for Trinamul.

Mamata had on June 10 announced a grievance cell, toll-free numbers for calls (1800 345 8244) and text messages (9073300524), and an email address (wbcmro@gmail.com) through which people could complain against party representatives who demanded bribes for welfare delivery, among other irregularities.

On June 18, addressing party councillors in a televised address, she asked “those who have taken money” to “go return it”. Since then, large parts of Bengal have witnessed a clamour from the beneficiaries of government schemes for the refund of “cut money” extorted by Trinamul representatives, embarrassing the party.

“Eto din jara korechhe selam, bhoyete thekechhe badhyo golam…. Ekhon tadeyr mukhete proshno, uttor achhe ki (Those who saluted you, whom fear turned into your obedient slaves, they are now asking questions, do you have the answers),” goes the song’s third stanza.

Another singer, Babul Supriyo — BJP leader, Asansol MP and Union minister — rubbed salt into Trinamul wounds.

“I thank Nachiketada endlessly for using the medium of a song to bring before everyone what’s on the people’s minds, with an accurate level of satire added as tadka (garnishing),” he tweeted in Bengali.

Asked about the song, Nachiketa said he had composed it out of admiration for Mamata’s integrity.

“I am above politics and parties. I have been vocal against graft, especially in government and administration, for decades. Mamata Banerjee is the only leader in the country who could issue such a call,” he said.

“The CPM, Congress and the BJP are to blame for the cut-money culture. Mamata Banerjee is a cent per cent leader. Her decision is admirable. It inspired me.”

Although no one in Trinamul has openly opposed Mamata’s diktat, there are murmurs suggesting her call for refunding the extorted money is a recipe for disaster.

First, it amounts to an admission of corruption that many think the party can ill afford in the aftermath of the general election debacle. Second, even one person refunding “cut money” can create a crisis across the state.

Third, many in the party fear that the exercise would remain confined to councillors and the receivers of cuts relating to welfare schemes, letting off the “big fish” who have many means of amassing illegal assets.

“This is spinning out of control; and Nachiketa’s song is propaganda material served on a platter to the BJP,” a senior Trinamul leader said.