Kalyan Banerjee quits as TMC chief whip in Lok Sabha; slams Mahua Moitra for ‘abusive’ remarks

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday announced his decision to quit as the party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha shortly after a virtual meeting where he claimed party supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee raised the lack of coordination among the party MPs.

Banerjee made the announcement while speaking to a news channel. He said, “I have quit as the party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha, as ‘didi’ (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.”

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Banerjee’s decision comes amid the ongoing feud between him and his party colleague and Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra. Shortly before the announcement, Banerjee had also slammed Moitra for her alleged personal remarks during a recent podcast.

In a social media post on X, Banerjee wrote, “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 discourse.”

Referring to his earlier remarks on Moitra, the Serampore MP stated that his questions pertained to public accountability and personal conduct, and that it doesn’t justify branding legitimate criticism as “misogyny” to escape scrutiny.

“Labeling a male colleague as ‘sexually frustrated’ isn’t boldness — it’s outright abuse. If such language were directed at a woman, there would be nationwide outrage, and rightly so. But when a man is the target, it’s dismissed or even applauded. Let’s be clear: abuse is abuse — regardless of gender. Such remarks are not just indecent; they reinforce a toxic double standard where men are expected to silently endure what would never be tolerated if roles were reversed,” he said.

Banerjee further added that Ms Moitra is deluding herself if she thinks that flinging gutter insults will mask her own failures or distract from serious questions about her record.

“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 added.

Meanwhile, Kakali Ghosh Dastidar is likely to replace Banerjee as TMC Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha.