Trinamool’s Kalyan upset with CPI(M)’s Bikash over former TMC MLA’s lawyer

MP Kalyan Banerjee in the suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC). File | Photo credit: ANI

A fresh spat erupted in West Bengal political circles as Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee expressed his displeasure over CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya representing the former Trinamool Congress MLA before the Calcutta High Court.

Mr. Bhattacharya, a designated senior advocate, appeared for former Trinamool Congress MLA Aditi Munshi and her husband in a case where the couple sought anticipatory bail in the Calcutta high court. Without directly naming Mr. Bhattacharya, Kalyan Banerjee, himself a senior advocate, raised questions at the CPI(M) leader for defending her own party’s former MLA and her husband, both of whom are “facing serious charges of corruption”.

“A learned senior advocate, who often projects himself as an anti-corruption crusader, is now appearing on behalf of a former TMC MLA and her husband, both of whom are facing serious corruption charges. The irony is striking when the same gentleman is arguing in court that 32,000 primary school teachers secured employment through corrupt means,” Mr Banerjee posted on social media.

Several Trinamool Congress leaders, including party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, have approached the Calcutta high court seeking protection from arrest in several FIRs filed against them since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state. The Trinamool general secretary was defended by Kalyan Banerjee in the Supreme Court.

Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a former Rajya Sabha MP, has highlighted corruption in the recruitment of teachers by the Trinamool Congress government. Allegations of corruption against Mamata Banerjee’s government eventually brought about its defeat in the 2026 parliamentary elections.

“At the very least, such contradictions should force him to refrain from asserting the moral basis of corruption in the future. Professional responsibility cannot always be used as a shield when he selectively targets one side while defending another that faces similar allegations,” Banerjee said.

The Trinamool Congress MP also pointed out that this development naturally raises an important political question – “is there some form of tacit understanding between the BJP and the CPI(M)?

It is interesting to note that after the regime change in West Bengal, the CPI(M) leadership refused to meet the Trinamool Congress on the grounds that there were serious allegations of corruption against the party, which was in power from 2011 to 2026.

Published – 23 May 2026 12:13 IST