A day after Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee resigned as chief whip in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentarian launched a fresh salvo at party MP Mahua Moitra and offered an “apology to the nation” for defending someone “who lacked basic gratitude”.
Sharing a video of him supporting Moitra amid the “cash for query” row in Parliament, Banerjee said, “In 2023, I stood by Ms Moitra when she was under fire in Parliament — I did so out of conviction, not compulsion. Today, she repays that support by calling me a misogynist. I owe the nation an apology for having defended someone who clearly lacks basic gratitude.”
Banerjee and Moitra have been trading barbs for a while, and recently the war of words had escalated after the Serampore MP responded to a rape case in a Kolkata college, saying, “If a friend rapes a friend, how can you ensure security?”. In retort, Moitra said, “Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them.”
Senior MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has replaced Banerjee as the party chief whip in the Lower House. Actor-turned-MP Satabdi Roy has been appointed as the new Deputy Leader of the parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha.
Banerjee had been vocal on social media since Sunday night, following TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s remarks in a closed-door meeting about “lack of coordination” in the House.
Shortly after his post, the Trinamool Congress made an official announcement saying his resignation has been accepted. “Shri Kalyan Banerjee submitted his resignation yesterday to the Chairperson from the post of Chief Whip of the TMC Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha. The Chairperson has accepted his resignation and thanked him for his contributions in that role,” the party posted on its official X handle.
“In consultation with senior parliamentarians, the Chairperson has nominated Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar as the new Chief Whip… and Smt. Satabdi Roy as the new Deputy Leader of the AITC in the Lok Sabha with immediate effect,” the statement added.
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Moitra promptly congratulated the new appointees. “Heartfelt congratulations to my senior colleagues Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar & Satabdi Roy for being nominated… God bless & shine on!” she posted on X.
Kalyan Banerjee responded with a terse post: “To The Chairperson, Thanks for accepting my resignation. Regards. Kalyan Banerjee.”
On August 4, following the internal meeting of party MPs chaired by Mamata Banerjee, Kalyan had told mediapersons he had offered to resign. However, he also said that Abhishek Banerjee, the new TMC parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha, had asked him to wait till August 7 before finalising his decision.
“Didi’s point was proper coordination is not happening in Lok Sabha. If I am guilty of that, that’s why I resigned. Abhishek Banerjee spoke to me for ten minutes. He advised me not to step down and said he would discuss the matter on August 7,” Banerjee said.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over the party’s handling of Moitra’s recent comments. “Does Mamata Banerjee know how the work in Parliament is going on? I did the work I was assigned, but I am not a scholar from Oxford or Cambridge and do not wear expensive sarees. Those who criticise Mamata Banerjee are being rewarded. Didi said I am quarreling. But if someone abuses me, how can I be silent? Mahua Moitra abused me. Instead of taking action against her, the party is targeting me. Didi said she was not consulted while choosing speakers. She was consulted,” he said.
