Kolkata, 5 Aug (H.S.) — In a major reshuffle in its parliamentary leadership, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday appointed senior MP Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar as the party’s new chief whip in the Lok Sabha, following the resignation of Kalyan Banerjee from the post. Veteran MP and former Bengali film actress Shatabdi Roy has been named the party’s new deputy leader in the Lower House.

In an official statement, the TMC said, “After consultation with senior MPs, Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has been appointed chief whip and Shatabdi Roy as deputy leader in the Lok Sabha. We wish them the best in their new responsibilities and hope they continue to uphold the pride, rights, and dignity of Bengal.”

Banerjee’s resignation came after a virtual meeting chaired by party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, where she reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over a lack of coordination among party MPs. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said, “In the meeting, Didi (Mamata Banerjee) said there was a lack of coordination among MPs, and the blame lies with me. So I decided to step down.”

However, Kalyan Banerjee also voiced his displeasure at the party’s silence over what he described as abusive remarks made against him by fellow MP Mahua Moitra. “Should I tolerate people who hurl abuses at me? I informed the party leadership, but no action was taken. Instead, the blame was put on me. Didi can run the party the way she wants. I am so hurt that I am even thinking of quitting politics,” he said.

The feud between the two MPs escalated recently after Moitra, in a podcast, used offensive language against Banerjee. This came in retaliation to Banerjee calling her “anti-women.” The disagreement deepened following Banerjee’s controversial remarks on a rape case involving a law college student in Kolkata’s Kasba area.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh