Internal conflicts within TMC reaches Lok Sabha, Kakoli writes to Speaker against Kalyan
The Statesman | 29 May 2026
Senior Trinamul Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday seeking permission to lodge a formal complaint against party colleague and Chief Whip Kalyan Banerjee, accusing him of “insulting and misogynistic behaviour”.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has accused Kalyan Banerjee of repeatedly verbally abusing her inside the Lok Sabha.
In her letter to the Speaker, Dastidar sought intervention and action against Kalyan Banerjee, alleging that the behaviour reflected misogyny and was not limited to her alone.
“I seek your permission to lodge a formal complaint to you for redressal against Lok Sabha Member of TMC Kalyan Banerjee, who has repeatedly verbally abused me inside the Lok Sabha,” she wrote.
Raising concerns over the treatment of women parliamentarians, Dastidar further said the alleged conduct was part of a broader pattern and demanded action.
“This misogyny has been against many lady members and needs to be punished,” the TMC MP stated in her complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker.
After the party’s loss in the West Bengal Assembly election, TMC chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee replaced Kalyan with Kakoli as the Chief Whip. This move seemingly sparked friction, leading to Kakoli’s critical remarks against the party. Initially, she resigned from the district president position, and on Wednesday, she stepped down from all party posts. Notably, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari led an administrative meeting in Kalyani on Tuesday, which preceded her resignation.
Barasat’s Trinamul MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has alleged that Kalyan Banerjee, TMC MP from Sreerampur, repeatedly verbally harassed her inside the Lok Sabha. She has also accused Kalyan of holding misogynistic views.
In her letter, Kakoli stated that Kalyan exhibits a discriminatory attitude toward female members of parliament and believes he should face appropriate disciplinary action for his behaviour.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker, Kakoli wrote that she is seeking permission to file a formal complaint against Kalyan Banerjee, citing instances of verbal harassment during Parliament sessions.
She has further expressed that his actions reflect a pattern of misogyny, which extends to several other women MPs as well. According to Kakoli, such behaviour warrants strict punishment.
Meanwhile, after resigning from all organisational posts, sharp criticism was directed at her by her own colleague, Kalyan Bandopadhyay. Kalyan openly mocked Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, referring to her as the “queen of institutional corruption”.
He even brought up the Narada scandal to take further jabs at her. While Kakoli alleged verbal abuse, Kalyan countered with claims that it was actually Kakoli herself who often resorted to using inappropriate language. In response, Kakoli has now lodged a formal complaint against Kalyan with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Regarding Kakoli’s allegations, Kalyan Banerjee has stated that he is unaware of the matter. In an initial response, he remarked, “How can I comment on something I don’t know about?” Following this, the four-time Barasat MP resigned from all organisational posts of the Trinamul Congress; she has launched sharp attacks against certain party leaders. Kakoli has openly raised concerns about internal issues within the party, corruption, and the RG Kar scandal and also questioned the role of I-PAC. Political observers speculate that her actions have further deepened the rift within the party.
On the other hand, a day after defying party orders by attending the Chief Minister’s administrative review meeting in Kalyani. After that, Kakoli resigned from all the organisational roles in the party. Now, Kakoli has directly escalated her criticism against Kalyan at the centre of this controversy.