Kalyan Banerjee Resigns as TMC Chief Whip After Mamata Flags Poor Coordination

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee resigned as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha on Monday, taking responsibility after party supremo Mamata Banerjee flagged a “lack of coordination” among MPs in Parliament. The decision followed a virtual meeting of all TMC MPs from both houses, chaired by the West Bengal Chief Minister.

Announcing his decision, Kalyan Banerjee, the four-time MP from Sreerampur, stated that he was stepping down because the party president had pointed out coordination issues. “I have quit as the party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha, as ‘didi’ said during the virtual meeting that there is a lack of coordination among party MPs. So the blame is on me. Hence, I have decided to step down,” he said, as reported by news agency PTI.

The reshuffle also saw a significant change in the party’s leadership within the lower house. National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, a three-time MP from Diamond Harbour, has been appointed as the new leader of the party in the Lok Sabha. He replaces veteran lawmaker Sudip Bandopadhyay, who was relieved of the responsibility due to poor health.

Mamata Banerjee confirmed the change in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Given that our Lok Sabha leader, Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay, is unwell and undergoing medical treatment, the MPs have unanimously decided to entrust Shri Abhishek Banerjee with the responsibility of leading the party in the Lok Sabha… We pray for Sudip da’s swift recovery and look forward to his continued guidance,” she wrote.

Kalyan Banerjee’s resignation comes in the wake of several public spats with fellow party members, including a recent feud with Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra and a past confrontation with former cricketer and party MP Kirti Azad, which had caused embarrassment for the party leadership.

The Trinamool Congress, with 29 seats in the Lok Sabha, is a key member of the opposition INDIA bloc. This leadership change signals a move by the party to streamline its floor management and present a more cohesive front in Parliament.