Kunal Ghosh faces privilege motion after Assembly ruckus, says ‘did not insult Chair’

After chaotic scenes in the Bengal assembly over the past two days, Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh on Friday came under fresh pressure in the West Bengal Assembly.

This comes after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shankar Ghosh moved a privilege motion against the Beleghata MLA for allegedly insulting the Chair during the chaotic scenes witnessed over the past two days.

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Speaker Rathin Ghosh informed the House that the privilege notice had been accepted for consideration. The development follows unprecedented disruptions inside the Assembly over a dispute within the Trinamool Congress legislature party regarding speaking opportunities during budget discussions.

The controversy began on Wednesday when Kunal Ghosh protested after allegedly being denied permission to participate in the debate despite his name being recommended.

The protest escalated into heated exchanges and jostling on the floor of the House, prompting the Speaker to suspend Ghosh for the day and direct marshals to escort him out of the Assembly.

Tensions resurfaced on Thursday when senior minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay sought to raise the previous day’s developments at the start of proceedings. The Speaker described the incident as “highly disgraceful”, triggering sharp protests from legislators aligned with the Kalighat faction of the ruling party, who objected to the characterisation.

On Friday, Shankar Ghosh alleged that Kunal Ghosh’s conduct amounted to a serious breach of legislative privilege, contending that his remarks and behaviour had undermined the dignity of the Speaker’s office and the decorum of the Assembly. Responding in the House, Kunal Ghosh denied intentionally disrespecting the Chair but expressed regret if his actions had been perceived that way.

“I did not insult your Chair. If you feel that I have shown disrespect to the Chair, then I am sorry,” he said. The MLA maintained that the dispute stemmed from repeated denial of opportunities to speak in the Assembly rather than any personal grievance against the Speaker.

He claimed that he and other legislators had raised the matter with the Chief Minister, who had asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to examine the issue and ensure that they were given an opportunity to participate in debates.

Kunal Ghosh also openly acknowledged differences with the party’s chief whip, Ritabrata Banerjee, alleging that his name had repeatedly been dropped from the list of speakers despite recommendations from senior minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

“There is a major problem with the chief whip. This is a reality and cannot be denied. Our names are being sent, but my name is repeatedly removed. That is the root of the present dispute,” he said.

While accepting the privilege motion, Speaker Rathin Ghosh advised both factions within the ruling party to resolve their internal differences outside the House and ensure that the dignity and functioning of the Assembly are not affected by organisational disputes.