In a move symbolising protest against fostering defections within the ranks of his party, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh, largely seen as a staunch Mamata Banerjee loyalist, staged a walk out from the two-day orientation programme for newly elected legislators at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town.
The Beleghata MLA blamed the Speakers of the Lok Sabha and the West Bengal Assembly for facilitating the split withing his party.
Ghosh who has of late emerged as a spokesperson from the Kalighat camp attended the inaugural session of the programme, collected his delegate card and remained present during the opening ceremony before leaving the venue in protest.
The orientation programme, which began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, is being conducted for newly elected MLAs to familiarise them with parliamentary procedures, legislative practices and House etiquette.
Among those present were Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathin Ghosh, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Governor R.N. Ravi, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay.
Explaining his decision to leave, Ghosh said attending the programme was his duty as a legislator, but remaining there was a matter of personal conviction. “I came because it was my responsibility as an MLA. Walking out was my decision,” he said.
Launching a sharp attack on the two Speakers, Ghosh alleged that Om Birla had been “part of the game to split the Trinamool Congress” in Parliament by not disqualifying MPs who had joined another political formation.
He claimed that the Assembly Speaker had legitimised “turncoats” by recognising their legislative group.
“I will not learn parliamentary democracy, rules or legislative etiquette from people who have helped legitimise defections,” Ghosh said.
Without naming anyone directly, his remarks were widely seen as a veiled criticism of the camp led by Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly, Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay, whose recognition by the Speaker had been opposed by the Kalighat faction of the party.
Ghosh, however, welcomed the initiative of organising an orientation programme for first-time legislators. He said he would instead seek guidance from former Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, who presided over the House for 15 years and is now a fellow MLA.
“I will learn parliamentary conventions, legislative procedures and House etiquette from Biman Banerjee, who has vast experience as Speaker,” he said.
The development comes against the backdrop of continuing political divisions within the Trinamool Congress following the Assembly election. The Kalighat camp had proposed Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, but Ritabrata Banerjee secured the support of a majority of opposition MLAs and was subsequently recognised by the Speaker.
At the parliamentary level, a group of 20 Trinamul MPs, including Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Shatabdi Roy, have merged their faction with the newly formed the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and have formally informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of their decision.