NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee (AITMC) stepped down as the party’s Chief Whip today, following a virtual meeting chaired by Mamata Banerjee, amid growing internal discord.
Banerjee cited a “lack of coordination among party MPs” highlighted in the meeting and accepted responsibility, stating he chose to resign due to the criticism he faced.
Internal Rift Within TMC
This resignation follows explosive infighting with fellow MPs, particularly Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad:
On April 4, an altercation erupted outside the Election Commission when Moitra discovered her name was omitted from a memorandum orchestrated by Banerjee. She reportedly asked security personnel to “arrest him” during the incident.
TMC MP Saugata Roy publicly demanded Banerjee’s removal, citing his repeated “uncivilised behaviour”:
Past incidents include calling Jyotiraditya Scindia a “lady killer”, throwing a bottle during Waqf Bill hearings, and using inappropriate language toward women MPs.
Roy confirmed Moitra was seen in tears following the confrontation and stressed that many MPs felt Banerjee unfit to continue as Chief Whip.
Banerjee’s Rebuttal
At a press conference, Banerjee countered:
- He accused Moitra of lying, objected to her elevation within the party, and criticized Roy and Kirti Azad, referring to them as sources of internal factionalism.
- He dismissed internal calls for his removal and declared he would step down only if Mamata Banerjee asked him to do so.
Profile Snapshot: Kalyan Banerjee
Four-time MP from Serampore, former TGMC Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, long-time advocate for the party. Notable controversies include frequent outbursts, sexist remarks and clashes with colleagues.
What began as a procedural disagreement escalated rapidly into a public intra-party conflict. Kalyan Banerjee resigned shortly after concerns were raised about his leadership, acting impulsively and offending fellow MPs. This crisis comes at a politically sensitive juncture for TMC, with impending state elections and concerns over public image and internal cohesion.
