Kolkata, 15 May (H.S.) : Discontent within the Trinamool Congress appeared to surface publicly after Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar reacted on social media following her removal as the chief whip of the party’s parliamentary team in the Lok Sabha.

During a meeting of Trinamool Congress MPs at Kalighat on Thursday, party supremo Mamata Banerjee announced that Kalyan Banerjee would once again take charge as the chief whip of the parliamentary party, replacing Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.

Soon after the announcement, Kakoli posted a message on social media that read: “Acquaintance began in 1976, political journey started in 1984. Today, four decades of loyalty have been rewarded.” Her statement has triggered political speculation, with many interpreting it as an indirect expression of disappointment over the party leadership’s decision.

Political observers noted that Kakoli and Mamata Banerjee had known each other since their days in student politics in the Congress organisation during the mid-1970s. In 1984, when Mamata Banerjee contested and defeated veteran Left leader Somnath Chatterjee from the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency, Kakoli was considered among her close associates.

Last year in August, Kalyan Banerjee had resigned suddenly from the post of chief whip amid a public controversy involving Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra. Following his resignation, Mamata Banerjee appointed Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar to the position.

Before becoming chief whip, Kakoli had served as the deputy leader of the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha. After her elevation, actor-turned-politician Satabdi Roy was made deputy leader. With Kalyan Banerjee’s return as chief whip, Satabdi Roy continues in her role, while Kakoli no longer holds any position in the parliamentary party structure.

The reshuffle comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing internal turbulence following its heavy defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, where the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a clear majority.

Senior Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh had recently called for introspection within the party through social media posts, claiming that leaders such as Tapas Roy and Sajal Ghosh were compelled to leave the party. The party has also suspended several spokespersons over remarks considered anti-party in nature.

Against this backdrop, Mamata Banerjee, during the Kalighat meeting, urged party MPs to remain united during what she described as a difficult phase for the organisation. However, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar’s social media post the following day has further intensified discussions about internal dissatisfaction within the party.

Political analysts pointed out that the reshuffle cannot be linked solely to electoral performance. In the Barasat Lok Sabha segment represented by Kakoli, the BJP won five of the seven Assembly seats. Similarly, in Kalyan Banerjee’s Srirampur constituency, the Trinamool Congress also suffered a 5-2 defeat. As a result, the exact reason behind Kakoli’s removal and Kalyan Banerjee’s reinstatement remains unclear.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh