Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a major embarrassment after an internal feud between two of its senior MPs — Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra — erupted in public, just ahead of the crucial assembly elections next year. The dispute, which started over a minor disagreement, has now snowballed into a full-blown controversy involving leaked chats, accusations, and internal criticism.
Dispute Over Sweet Shop Promotion Turns Ugly
The clash began on April 3 when Kalyan Banerjee, the TMC’s chief whip in Lok Sabha, opposed fellow MP Kirti Azad’s efforts to promote a private Bengali sweet shop inside Parliament premises. Banerjee argued that if any brand should be supported by the party, it should be the state-run Biswa Bangla and not a private company.
Sources suggest that the disagreement soon turned heated, with both MPs exchanging sharp words.
Mahua Moitra Confronts Banerjee During EC Visit
The situation further deteriorated on April 4, when a TMC delegation visited the Election Commission to raise concerns over alleged voter ID duplications in West Bengal. It was during this visit that Mahua Moitra reportedly confronted Kalyan Banerjee after her name was excluded from the party’s memorandum.
According to sources, the exchange escalated rapidly, with Moitra allegedly asking security personnel to arrest Banerjee. Purported WhatsApp chats between the two leaders have since gone viral, where Banerjee allegedly referred to Moitra in derogatory terms.
Kirti Azad, also part of the chat group, rebuked Banerjee’s comments and advised him to behave maturely.
Video of Heated Exchange Surfaces
A video, shared by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, shows Banerjee allegedly targeting Moitra verbally at a public venue, with Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien seen attempting to calm the situation.
Banerjee can be heard accusing Moitra of having no political agenda apart from targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani.
Internal Dissent Within TMC
The public nature of the feud has triggered outrage within the TMC ranks. Veteran leader Saugata Roy confirmed that Moitra was visibly upset in Parliament and remarked that many MPs are now demanding Banerjee’s removal as chief whip.
Roy criticised Banerjee for his repeated derogatory remarks, particularly against women.
Banerjee’s Counterattack
Kalyan Banerjee has retaliated by attacking Saugata Roy’s credibility, accusing him of spreading internal discord for years. He invoked the 2016 Narada sting operation, calling Roy a “Narada chor” and blaming him for damaging the party’s reputation.
Despite this controversy, Banerjee remains a close confidant of party chief Mamata Banerjee, who has reportedly instructed all MPs to avoid aggravating the issue further.
Banerjee’s Controversial History
This is not the first time Banerjee has courted controversy. A four-time Lok Sabha MP and a key legal strategist for the TMC, Banerjee has often made headlines for his aggressive style and outspoken remarks.
From mocking Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in Parliament to making disparaging comments against opposition leaders, Banerjee’s combative approach has drawn criticism within and outside the party.
While his loyalty to Mamata Banerjee is undisputed, this latest episode has exposed serious cracks within the TMC’s leadership.
