Kakoli Dastidar Writes To Lok Sabha Speaker Alleging Misconduct By Kalyan Banerjee

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla alleging repeated verbal abuse and misogynistic behaviour by fellow party MP Kalyan Banerjee, triggering a fresh political controversy within the party and drawing attention to conduct inside Parliament. In her formal complaint, Dastidar requested intervention from the Speaker, stating that she had repeatedly faced verbal abuse from Banerjee during proceedings inside the Lok Sabha. She alleged that the behaviour was not an isolated incident and claimed it reflected a broader pattern of misconduct directed at women parliamentarians.

The letter, made public on Thursday, comes a day after Dastidar stepped down from all organisational responsibilities within the Trinamool Congress. Her resignation included her post as president of the party’s women’s wing, a role that had placed her at the forefront of organisational and outreach work within the party’s internal structure. In her resignation note, Dastidar cited differences with the party leadership and referred to a period of “deep mental conflict and long reflection” before deciding to relinquish her organisational responsibilities. However, she clarified that she would continue to serve as a Member of Parliament and remain within the Trinamool Congress as an ordinary party worker, signalling that her exit was limited to internal roles rather than parliamentary representation.

The allegations against Kalyan Banerjee add to growing signs of internal strain within the TMC, particularly among senior leaders holding organisational responsibilities. While intra-party disagreements are not uncommon in large political organisations, the public nature of the complaint and its direct reference to conduct inside the Lok Sabha have intensified scrutiny. Dastidar’s letter specifically invokes the authority of the Lok Sabha Speaker, seeking formal redressal for what she describes as repeated instances of verbal misconduct. She also stated that such behaviour was not limited to her alone, alleging that other women members of Parliament had faced similar treatment and calling for appropriate action to address the issue.

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The development places renewed focus on parliamentary decorum and the mechanisms available to address allegations of misconduct among sitting MPs. As per established procedure, the Speaker has the authority to examine complaints related to behaviour inside the House and determine appropriate action, if required. As of now, there has been no official public response from Kalyan Banerjee regarding the allegations. The Trinamool Congress leadership has also not issued a formal statement addressing the complaint or the resignation.

The timing of the controversy is politically significant, coming shortly after Dastidar’s exit from organisational responsibilities within the party. While she has reiterated her commitment to continue as an MP, the sequence of events has raised questions about internal dynamics within the TMC and the management of interpersonal conflicts among senior leaders. The issue is expected to draw further political attention in the coming days, particularly if it is formally taken up by the Speaker’s office or escalates into a broader parliamentary ethics discussion.

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