Who is the new leader of Trinamool's Parliamentary team in Lok Sabha?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Abhishek Banerjee becomes the leader of Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha.
- Kalyan Banerjee resigns as Chief Whip, citing moral obligation.
- Uncertainty surrounds the appointment of a new Chief Whip.
- Chief Minister's dissatisfaction points to coordination issues within the party.
- Recent conflicts among MPs highlight internal tensions.
Kolkata, Aug 4 (NationPress) Abhishek Banerjee, the General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress and Lok Sabha (LS) MP, has taken over the role of leader of the Trinamool Congress’ Parliamentary team in the Lower House, succeeding the seasoned Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who has served as a party MP for four terms.
This transition was confirmed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a virtual meeting held on Monday, which included all Trinamool Congress members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In a related development, Kalyan Banerjee, another four-time Lok Sabha member from the Trinamool Congress, declared his resignation from the position of Chief Whip during the same meeting.
The timeline for appointing Kalyan Banerjee's successor remains uncertain, as it is also unclear if Abhishek Banerjee will temporarily fulfill the Chief Whip duties alongside his new leadership role in the Parliamentary team.
While announcing his resignation, Kalyan Banerjee expressed that his decision stemmed from a sense of moral responsibility, following the Chief Minister's dissatisfaction with the coordination among party MPs during the meeting.
A member of the Lok Sabha who attended the meeting indicated that the Chief Minister hinted at the possibility of Abhishek Banerjee assuming both the leader and Chief Whip roles, at least for the interim period.
“The Chief Minister has given him the task of determining which party MP will address specific topics in the Lok Sabha. However, such decisions still require the Chief Minister’s approval,” stated the Lok Sabha MP, who wished to remain anonymous.
In the meantime, party insiders have reported that Kalyan Banerjee has drawn criticism from party leadership, including the Chief Minister, due to a recent altercation with fellow Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra. This confrontation was triggered by comments Banerjee made regarding a law college student’s assault within the college grounds in Kasba, South Kolkata.
Banerjee even confronted Moitra personally, referencing her recent marriage to Pinaki Misra, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court and former Lok Sabha MP from Puri, Odisha.