Did Kalyan Banerjee's Resignation Signal a Shift in Loyalty?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kalyan Banerjee recently resigned as Chief Whip of the Trinamool Congress.
- He expressed his grievances regarding treatment by party leadership.
- Banerjee's cordial interaction with Prime Minister Modi has sparked political speculation.
- The Trinamool Congress has not commented on this interaction.
- Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has been appointed as the new Chief Whip.
New Delhi/Kolkata, Aug 11 (NationPress) Just days after stepping down from his role as the Trinamool Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee, a four-time Lok Sabha member and a self-declared rebel, was seen engaging warmly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event on Monday.
Sources indicate that during the event, the Prime Minister gestured for Banerjee to join him, to which Kalyan responded with a smile. Although Banerjee did not provide any comments on this interaction, the image of him chatting amicably with the Prime Minister has sparked speculation in political circles about a potential rift between him and the Trinamool Congress.
Following his resignation from the Chief Whip position last week, Banerjee took to social media to express his grievances about the party leadership overlooking his contributions and remaining silent on repeated insults from fellow party member Mahua Moitra.
“I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanizing language such as comparing a fellow MP to a 'pig', is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse,” Banerjee posted after resigning.
He also voiced his concerns regarding the party leadership, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for failing to take action against Moitra.
Despite his complaints, there has been no response from the Trinamool Congress leadership, and no action has been taken against Moitra. Banerjee's resignation was quickly accepted, and another four-time Lok Sabha member, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, was appointed as the new Chief Whip.
Interestingly, no comments have been made by anyone in Trinamool Congress about Banerjee's friendly interaction with the Prime Minister during the event.