Kolkata, 4 August (H.S.) -

In a key organisational reshuffle, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday appointed its national general secretary and three-time MP from Diamond Harbour, Abhishek Banerjee, as the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha. The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the party’s Members of Parliament, chaired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Mamata Banerjee, replaces senior Kolkata North MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who has been relieved of the position reportedly due to health-related concerns. Party insiders view this move as a significant shift aimed at bolstering the TMC’s strategic positioning in Parliament and further consolidating Abhishek’s stature as the party’s second most influential leader after Mamata Banerjee.

Soon after the announcement, senior advocate and four-time MP from Srirampur, Kalyan Banerjee, resigned from his post as the party’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha. While no direct conflict between him and Abhishek Banerjee was reported, Kalyan has been known to advocate for greater roles for senior leaders within the party — a position often at odds with the leadership’s newer direction.

According to party sources, Kalyan Banerjee’s resignation was also influenced by his long-standing disputes with Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra and his public spat with former cricketer and MP Kirti Azad, both of which were seen as detrimental to the party’s image.

TMC currently holds 29 seats in the Lok Sabha and is a key constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc. The leadership change is expected to play a critical role in shaping the party’s parliamentary strategy and its future political course.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh