Opposition demands lifting of Kalyan Banerjee’s suspension, meets Speaker

A delegation comprising Congress MP KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, TMC MPs Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, Sajda Ahmed and Pratima Mondal, among others, met the Speaker to withdraw Kalyan Banerjee’s suspension. File | Photo credit: PTI

Opposition MPs on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding the removal of Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Kalyan Banerjee, saying the alleged altercation that led to the action took place after the House was adjourned and therefore not covered by the rules.

Also read | Lok Sabha suspends TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee for using ‘disgusting’ language against women MPs

A delegation comprising Congress MP KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, TMC MPs Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, Sajda Ahmed and Pratima Mondal, among others, met the Speaker shortly after Mr Banerjee was suspended for the rest of the monsoon session, veteran TMC Sauga leader Roy said.

Mr. Roy said the opposition objected both to the procedure adopted for the suspension and the grounds on which it was based.

“When there was an uproar in the House, the speaker read out the notice of suspension and Kalyan Banerjee was suspended for the rest of the session. It was a completely wrong decision and that’s why the opposition parties went to meet the speaker,” Roy told reporters.

He said the delegation pointed out that if the Speaker’s action was based on a spat between Mr Banerjee and rebel TMC MP Mitali Bagh, who is among those who joined the Nationalist Civic Party of India (NCPI), it could not be sustained as the House was already adjourned.

“We want to point out that if the Speaker was talking about the fight between Banerjee and Mitali Bagh, the House was not in session at that time. The microphones were switched off, there was no one in the Speaker’s office. Kalyan Banerjee was not warned nor was he given an opportunity to defend himself,” Mr Roy said.

“The motion to suspend Shri. Banerjee is out of order as the House was not in session. The rules do not apply to what happened in an empty House. We urge that the suspension be lifted,” he said.

According to Mr. Roy, the chairman told the delegation that since the ruling party had moved the motion, he would talk to them and announce his decision on Thursday.

“Our fight will continue,” Mr. Roy said, adding that the confrontation began after “some people who left our party made a comment about Kalyan and he responded to it.” Meanwhile, Mr. Banerjee lashed out at the rebel MPs.

“What would they do if they suspend me? They can’t throw me out of the House. They are 20 MPs. Did they even have a meeting in Kolkata? They don’t even have 20 votes in Bengal. They are traitors,” he said.

“Today is not the last day, tomorrow is also, day after tomorrow is also… After one year, this government will fall,” Banerjee added.

Rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is among the MPs who joined the NCPI, argued for the suspension, alleging that Mr Banerjee had repeatedly used abusive language against women.

“Kalyan Banerjee constantly attacks women, uses profanity and insulting language. He defamed a woman MP so he was suspended,” she said.

Mr Banerjee was suspended for the rest of the monsoon session after the Lok Sabha passed a motion accusing him of using “disgusting” language against female members following a heated exchange with rebel TMC MPs in the Lok Sabha chamber. The exchange took place after the House was adjourned amid opposition protests.

The confrontation is the latest flashpoint following a split in the TMC following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections, when 20 MPs broke away to form and join the Nationalist Civic Party of India (NCPI) and extend support to the ruling NDA. Mr. Banerjee remained with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC.

Published – 22 Jul 2026 18:53 IST