Senior Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday quit as the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha accusing others of unfairly holding him responsible for lack of coordination among MPs at a time when some of them attend Parliament sparingly.
The decision was taken hours after a virtual Trinamool Congress MP meeting convened by party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during which she is said to have shown her displeasure with lack of coordination in the party's parliamentary wing.
"I have resigned as the party's Lok Sabha chief whip because 'Didi' (CM Mamata Banerjee) said in the virtual meeting that there is no coordination between party MPs. So it is my fault. Henceforth, I have resigned," said Kalyan.
Meanwhile, in a major shake-up within the TMC's parliamentary leadership, Abhishek Banerjee has been appointed the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, replacing senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay.
The decision announced by Chief Minister during a virtual meeting with MPs and MLAs on Monday, was immediately followed by the resignation of Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee from his post as chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
The leadership change is said to be a significant moment in the party’s internal dynamics, with many viewing it as a clear signal of generational transition, as the party looks to empower younger leadership.
Abhishek, currently the national General Secretary of the party and MP from Diamond Harbour, has now been entrusted with the additional responsibility of steering TMC’s strategy and voice in the Lok Sabha. His appointment is widely seen as an effort to sharpen the party’s presence in Parliament at a time when opposition unity is being tested on multiple national issues, from Operation Sindoor to the Bihar voter list controversy.
"Abhishek will now decide who will speak on what topic, when, and will submit the final list to Mamata Banerjee for approval," said an MP present at the meeting.
Coming to Kalyan Banerjee, the four-time MP from Sreerampur, who is also a senior advocate, said he felt humiliated that the party was not holding those responsible for indiscipline and poor attendance to account, but instead holding responsible.
"People whom Mamata Banerjee made MPs don't even attend Lok Sabha. TMC MPs from South Kolkata, Barrackpore, Bankura, North Kolkata, nobody attends Parliament. What can I do? What is my fault? I am being blamed for everything," Kalyan vented.
Sources added Kalyan's repeated clashes with Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra and his earlier public duel with former cricketer and TMC MP Kirti Azad had brought a lot of embarrassment to the party leadership.
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The recent bout with Moitra, in specific, is said to have also hurried the leadership into restructuring the party's floor strategy team.
Storming out in a fit of rage, Kalyan expressed that he was deeply pained by the party's silence regarding "insults" hurled against him by one of his fellow MPs, clearly referring to Moitra.
"Didi is saying Lok Sabha MPs are quarrelling and fighting. Should I put up with those who insult me? I reported the incident to the party, but rather than acting against the person who had insulted me, they are pointing fingers at me. Let Mamata Banerjee manage the party the way she wants," said Kalyan, who has been with the TMC boss since the late Nineties.
The virtual meeting on Monday was attended by TMC MPs from Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha.
As per party sources, Mamata Banerjee unequivocally stated factional rivalries among MPs were "unacceptable" and the party needs to present a united front in Parliament.
Though she did not mention anyone's name, most MPs feel that her remarks were aimed at Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee whose public confrontation had recently dominated headlines.
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