Synopsis: Kalyan Banerjee apologises for remarks against Mamata Banerjee, blames Mahua Moitra for the controversy, and resigns as TMC Chief Whip in Lok Sabha amid escalating political tensions.
Kolkata, 09 August, 2025
Regret and Blame
Kalyan Banerjee has publicly expressed regret for making disparaging remarks about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, but squarely placed the blame on fellow Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. Speaking in Konnagar, Hooghly, on Saturday, the Srerampore MP admitted, “Mahua Moitra is no longer my subject matter. I have wasted too much time and energy on one woman, which has damaged my image with many people. Even Didi (Mamata) had to hear things from me that I now wish I had never said.”
Banerjee credited a junior advocate for helping him realise this. Reading aloud a message he had received, he explained that the advice made him step back from the Moitra issue and focus on his pending legal work. When asked if he had spoken to Mamata on Raksha Bandhan, he replied, “I offered my respects to Didi, and she blessed me—not once, but three times.”
Resignation after Coordination Row
The controversy came days after Mamata Banerjee chaired a virtual meeting with party MPs on Monday, where she voiced displeasure over poor coordination within the TMC’s Lok Sabha unit. She named Abhishek Banerjee as acting leader in the Lower House until Sudip Bandyopadhyay recovers from illness. Taking the remarks as directed at him, Kalyan Banerjee resigned as Chief Whip, stating, “When the party leader believes coordination isn’t happening, the arrow is pointed at me. So, I am stepping down.”
Banerjee added that he felt his role was over: “Now Didi should run the team.” However, when pressed if his resignation was due to work difficulties, he cautiously said, “No, that’s not it.”
The Moitra Feud Intensifies
After stepping down, Kalyan Banerjee vented his frustration on social media, accusing Mahua Moitra of disrespectful conduct. This followed Moitra’s indirect but pointed remark in an interview, likening an unnamed colleague—widely interpreted as Banerjee—to a “piglet” in a fight, warning that engaging would only dirty both parties.
She further stated, “Misogynistic, frustrated male politicians exist in all parties, and Parliament reflects that.” Banerjee responded with a long post calling the term “piglet” not only insulting but against basic civic norms.
Party Reshuffle and Banerjee’s Next Steps
On Tuesday, shortly after Banerjee’s second post against Moitra, Mamata Banerjee formally accepted his resignation. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar was appointed as the new Chief Whip, Shatabdi Roy became Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, and Abhishek Banerjee was named Leader of the House.
Banerjee skipped Tuesday’s MPs’ meeting, telling the press he had informed Abhishek in advance, who agreed. Thanking Mamata for accepting his resignation, he told Anandabazar.com, “God has saved me. The way I used to shout in Parliament, I might have had a stroke one day. This has spared me.”
He added that he would soon make his presence felt again in the House, though noting that current sessions are marked mostly by disruptions. With several major legal cases ahead, he pledged to defend Mamata against political attacks, saying, “BJP, Congress, and CPM are working hand in hand to target her. We must stop them.”
