Mamata Banerjee Appoints Abhishek As TMC Lok Sabha Leader Amid Internal Reshuffle

In a major reshuffle within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), party Chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced that Abhishek Banerjee will take over as the TMC Lok Sabha leader until senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay ‘becomes fully fit’.

Kakali Ghosh Dastidar will replace Kalyan Banerjee as the Chief Whip.

The decision was conveyed during a virtual meeting of TMC MPs held at the party’s new office on Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi. Sources said Mamata expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s recent coordination and performance in the Lok Sabha.

Abhishek to Lead, Kakali to Coordinate

Mamata said Abhishek would lead the party in the Lower House, while Kakali would manage daily parliamentary affairs. Bandyopadhyay, 76, has not been attending Parliament regularly due to health concerns.

Mamata criticised the handling of responsibilities in the absence of Bandyopadhyay and Sougata Roy, blaming Kalyan Banerjee for failing to manage coordination effectively. She also referred to controversies involving Mahua Moitra, Kalyan Banerjee, and Kirti Azad.

After the meeting, Kalyan Banerjee denied being removed, claiming he had resigned. He said Abhishek Banerjee had spoken to him shortly before the meeting and urged him to reconsider.

Speaking to the press, Kalyan said, “I did the maximum work, but I’m not a scholar from Oxford or Cambridge. I don’t wear expensive sarees. Those who criticise Mamata Banerjee get rewarded.”

Meanwhile, Mamata instructed TMC MPs to raise their voices against the alleged harassment of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states, oppose the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, and take active part in the INDIA bloc meetings.

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