TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee Steps Down As Lok Sabha Chief Whip Amid Bitter Escalating Row With Mahua Moitra

Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee has resigned as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, according to reports by PTI quoting party sources.

The decision follows a sharp and very public fallout with fellow TMC MP Mahua Moitra, whose recent remarks in a podcast triggered fresh controversy.

Just before news of his resignation surfaced, Banerjee, who represents Serampore in the Lower House, took to X to condemn Moitra’s comments, accusing her of using "dehumanising language" and likening them to “outright abuse.” In his post, he said, “I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms Mahua Moitra in a public podcast... comparing a fellow MP to a 'pig' reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse.”

Banerjee insisted his own earlier statements were aimed at accountability and conduct, not at targeting Moitra personally. He wrote, “Labeling a male colleague as ‘sexually frustrated’ isn’t boldness, it’s outright abuse.”

He further argued that Moitra was resorting to insults to avoid answering questions about her performance as a parliamentarian, adding, “Those who rely on abuse instead of answers are not champions of democracy, they are its embarrassment.”

The rift reportedly dates back to April, when Moitra confronted Banerjee in Parliament after her name was omitted from a party memorandum.

That exchange spiralled into a prolonged feud, with Banerjee later alleging that Moitra had asked security personnel to have him arrested and branding her “rude” and “uncivilised.” He had also made controversial references to her personal life in response to her criticism.

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