Kunal Ghosh suspended from Bengal Assembly after blocking Opposition speaker
Synopsis
Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh physically blocked the Opposition Chief Whip's microphone, scuffled with marshals, and was dragged out of the West Bengal Assembly before being suspended for the day — all because, he claims, his name was removed from the debate speakers' list. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called the conduct intolerable.
Key Takeaways
Kunal Ghosh , Trinamool Congress MLA from Beleghata , was suspended from the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on 22 July for the remainder of the day's proceedings.
He blocked Opposition Chief Whip Akhruzzaman from speaking during the budget debate on the Home and Hill Affairs Department .
Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose ordered marshals to remove Ghosh after repeated appeals for order failed.
Ghosh scuffled with marshals and fell on the session hall floor before being dragged out.
Ghosh claimed he protested because his name was struck off the debate speakers' list by the opposition chief whip.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari condemned the conduct, calling it intolerable without naming Ghosh directly.
Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh was forcibly removed by assembly marshals and suspended from the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the day's proceedings on 22 July, after he physically blocked Opposition Chief Whip Akhruzzaman from speaking during a budget debate. The incident, which descended into a scuffle on the floor of the House, marks one of the more dramatic disruptions in the Bengal assembly in recent memory.
How the Disruption Unfolded
Chaos broke out when Akhruzzaman rose to participate in the discussion on budgetary demands of the Home and Hill Affairs Department. Ghosh left his seat, positioned himself in front of the opposition member's microphone, and began raising slogans, effectively silencing the Chief Whip. Despite repeated appeals for order, the situation did not de-escalate.
Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose directed marshals to remove Ghosh from the House. As marshals moved in, Ghosh scuffled with them; at one point he fell on the floor of the session hall amid the jostling before being dragged out. Trinamool MLAs from the original but minority faction of the party — led by Mamata Banerjee — also walked out in protest.
Ghosh's Explanation
Ghosh maintained that his protest was a direct response to his name being struck off the list of speakers for the debate. He said his name had initially figured among members scheduled to address the budgetary discussion on the Home and Hill Affairs Department, but was subsequently removed by the opposition chief whip. 'Why are you cutting my name?' he was heard saying on the floor before marshals intervened.
He argued this removal left him with no avenue but to stage the protest in the House itself — a justification that critics say does not excuse disrupting another legislator's right to speak.
Chief Minister's Response
Following the incident, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, without naming Ghosh directly, condemned the behaviour on the floor of the House. 'We were also in the opposition seat. But this incivility is above everyone. This cannot be tolerated,' he said. The remarks drew attention to the increasingly strained decorum within the Bengal assembly, where ruling and opposition benches have repeatedly clashed during budget sessions.
Assembly Proceedings Resume
Once Ghosh was removed, the Speaker allowed proceedings to resume. The suspension covers only the remainder of the day's session. Notably, this is not an isolated incident — West Bengal's assembly has seen multiple disruptions during budget discussions in recent years, often involving disputes over speaker lists and floor time. Whether the Speaker takes further disciplinary action beyond the day's suspension remains to be seen.
Point of View
That his name was dropped from a speakers' list, is a procedural dispute that has established remedies; the floor of the House is not one of them. What is notable is that the disruption came from the treasury benches, not the opposition — inverting the usual script. Chief Minister Adhikari's rebuke, though carefully unnamed, signals internal discomfort. If the ruling party cannot maintain discipline among its own MLAs during a budget session, the credibility of the assembly as a deliberative institution takes the hit.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Kunal Ghosh suspended from the West Bengal Assembly?
Kunal Ghosh was suspended for the remainder of the day's proceedings on 22 July after he blocked Opposition Chief Whip Akhruzzaman from speaking during a budget debate and subsequently scuffled with assembly marshals. Speaker Rathindra Bose ordered his removal after repeated appeals for order failed.
What was Kunal Ghosh's reason for the protest?
Ghosh claimed his name had been removed from the list of members scheduled to speak during the budget discussion on the Home and Hill Affairs Department. He said this forced him to stage the protest on the floor of the House.
What did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say about the incident?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, without naming Ghosh, said the conduct was beyond the limits of acceptable behaviour. 'We were also in the opposition seat. But this incivility is above everyone. This cannot be tolerated,' he remarked.
Did assembly proceedings continue after Ghosh was removed?
Yes, proceedings in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly resumed after Ghosh was escorted out by marshals. His suspension was limited to the remainder of that day's session.
