TMC rejig: Abhishek picked as party's leader in LS, Kalyan quits as Chief Whip

Banerjee, a three-time MP from Diamond Harbour, will replace veteran lawmaker from Kolkata Uttar Sudip Bandopadhyay.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress' virtual No. 2 Abhishek Banerjee was on Monday named the party's new leader in Lok Sabha replacing veteran MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, while Kalyan Banerjee quit as Chief Whip after party supremo Mamata Banerjee took exception to his verbal duel with fellow MP Mahua Moitra.

Mamata announced the decision, which she shared on X, to anoint her nephew as the chief in Lok Sabha at a virtual meeting of Trinamool MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha while emphasising that it will be "until Sudip Bandyopadhyay recovers fully" but party sources made it clear that the Diamond Harbour MP would now lead them in the Lower House.

Bandyopadhyay, who is not in the pink of his health, has not attended the ongoing Monsoon Session and the ascension of Abhishek comes months ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections. While the decision makes it clear that Abhishek will concentrate on Delhi, his prominence in the party has been sealed amid the old guard raising concerns about his possible future role.

"Rajya Sabha work is going well, but the performance of Lok Sabha MPs has been below expectations. Sudip-da is unwell and so is Saugata Roy. In the absence of senior leaders, coordination has collapsed," sources quoted Mamata as saying.

At the meeting, sources said Mamata did not mince words about one-two MPs "creating a mess" in the party, without directly referring to the ongoing public spat between Kalyan and Mahua. She said Bandyopadhyay is not well and till he recovers, Abhishek would coordinate the party affairs in Lok Sabha.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, she said, as Deputy Leader would help in coordination. During the interaction, she also made it clear that Kalyan will continue as the Chief Whip. However, within minutes after the meeting, Kalyan sent in his resignation as Chief Whip.

Later in the evening Abhishek called Kalyan and asked him to keep his calm till he meets him on Thursday.

After the meeting, an upset Kalyan claimed he quit because he was being blamed unfairly for lack of coordination among MPs. He also said he was deeply hurt by the party's silence over "insults" hurled at him by Mahua. He also posted on X claiming that Mahua used "dehumanising language" against him.

"Mamata-di says Lok Sabha MPs are fighting and quarrelling. Should I tolerate those who abuse me? I informed the party, but instead of taking action against the person who insulted me, they are blaming me. Let Mamata Banerjee run the party the way she sees fit," he told reporters.