Kalyan Banerjee resigns as Trinamool chief whip in Lok Sabha

Kalyan’s frequent run-ins with the TMC's Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra, and a public spat with former cricketer and party MP Kirti Azad had earlier embarrassed the party.

Trinamool  MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday said he has resigned as the chief whip of the party in Lok Sabha, amid run-ins with party colleague Mahua Moitra.

He announced his resignation after attending a virtual meeting of TMC MPs, chaired by party chief Mamata Banerjee.

"I have quit as the party's chief whip in Lok Sabha, as 'didi' (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) 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," said Banerjee as quoted by PTI.

The virtual meeting was attended by TMC MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. A well-known advocate, Banerjee is a four-time MP from Sreerampur.

In a post on X, said he had taken note of the recent personal remarks made by  Moitra in a public podcast.  "Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a "pig", is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse. Those who think invective can replace substance should take a hard look at the kind of politics they are practising - and the hollowness it exposes.When a public representative stoops to name-calling and coarse innuendo, it reflects not strength, but insecurity," he said.

The Trinamool leader also said if Moitra thought that "flinging gutter insults will mask her own failures or distract from serious questions about her record, she is deluding herself".

I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms. Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a "pig", is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil…

— Kalyan Banerjee (@KBanerjee_AITC) August 4, 2025

"Those who rely on abuse instead of answers are not champions of democracy - they are its embarrassment, and the people of this country can see through that act," he said.

His frequent run-ins with the TMC's Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra, and a public spat with former cricketer and party MP Kirti Azad had earlier embarrassed the party.

BJP reacts

On its X page, the West Bengal unit of the BJP shared Moitra's podcast. "TMC’s Mahua Moitra who is under investigation for compromising her parliamentary login to help a businessman dig up info on competitors has now called her own party colleague, senior MP Kalyan Banerjee, a PIG, " it said.

The BJP said Moitra was referring to none other than a "close associate of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in such crude terms".

TMC’s Mahua Moitra who is under investigation for compromising her parliamentary login to help a businessman dig up info on competitors has now called her own party colleague, senior MP Kalyan Banerjee, a PIG 🐷.

Yes, you read that right.

She’s referring to none other than a… pic.twitter.com/dO4msNfiyE

— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) August 3, 2025

"What does this say about the internal rot, ego clashes, and sheer chaos within the TMC? And these are the people claiming to uphold democracy and values," read the BJP post.