Kakali Ghosh Dastidar's son serves legal notice on Mamata, TMC MPs over defamation
Synopsis
Kakali Ghosh Dastidar's son Baidyanath has fired a legal broadside at Mamata Banerjee and four TMC leaders, demanding a public apology over claims he sought an MLA ticket and that his family consumes alcohol. The notice lands as the rebel TMC bloc formally gravitates toward BJP-NDA — a dual crisis of defection and defamation that is rapidly reshaping Bengal's political landscape.
Key Takeaways
Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar sent a legal notice on 13 June to Mamata Banerjee , Sougata Roy , Kalyan Banerjee , Mahua Moitra , and Sonali Guha over allegedly defamatory statements.
He denied seeking an MLA ticket from Barasat and rejected alcohol-related allegations made by Sonali Guha against his family.
The notice, prepared by advocate Pooja Shukla , demands a public apology and retraction; defamation proceedings are threatened if demands are unmet.
Rebel TMC MPs led by Kakali Ghosh Dastidar have met Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and decided to join the BJP-NDA alliance.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay , Kolkata Uttar TMC MP, joined the rebel camp on Saturday , travelling to Yadav's residence with rebel MP Satabdi Roy .
Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar, son of rebel All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakali Ghosh Dastidar, on Saturday, 13 June sent a legal notice to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior TMC leaders over allegedly false and defamatory statements made against him. The notice, prepared by his advocate Pooja Shukla, is addressed to Mamata Banerjee, TMC MPs Sougata Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, and former TMC leader Sonali Guha, and is expected to be served on Monday.
What the Legal Notice Alleges
Baidyanath categorically denied claims that he had sought an MLA ticket from the Barasat Assembly constituency in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly polls. He described such claims as 'false and defamatory in nature.' He further strongly refuted statements allegedly made by Sonali Guha that he, his brother, and his mother — Barasat MP Kakali Ghosh Dastidar — regularly consumed alcohol, calling those allegations 'completely untrue.'
The Demand: Apology or Legal Action
Baidyanath stated that he has requested a public apology and retraction of all the contested statements from the named individuals. He warned that failing an appropriate response, he intends to pursue all available legal remedies, including formal defamation proceedings. The notice is set to be formally served on Monday.
Background: Why TMC Leaders Made These Claims
The controversy stems from Kakali Ghosh Dastidar's decision to break ranks with the Trinamool Congress. TMC leaders, including Sonali Guha, have publicly claimed that Kakali turned rebel after the party refused to field her son as its candidate from the Barasat seat in the Assembly elections. Baidyanath's legal notice directly contests this narrative, framing it as a coordinated effort to malign his family's reputation.
Rebel TMC MPs Close In on BJP-NDA
This legal development comes amid a significant political realignment in Bengal. The rebel TMC MPs, led by Kakali Ghosh Dastidar, have already held a meeting at the residence of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also present. On the same day the notice was sent, Sudip Bandyopadhyay — the Kolkata Uttar MP of TMC — joined the rebel camp, and was seen travelling from Delhi airport with rebel MP Satabdi Roy to Bhupendra Yadav's residence. The rebel bloc has collectively decided to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The defection of multiple sitting TMC MPs to the NDA marks one of the most consequential political shifts in Bengal in recent years, and the legal notice adds a fresh dimension to what is already a deeply fractious split within the ruling party.
Point of View
The rebel camp is signalling it will not absorb TMC's counter-narrative quietly. The TMC's strategy of attributing Kakali's rebellion to personal ambition for her son has now been directly challenged on the record. More telling is the simultaneity: a legal notice on Saturday, Sudip Bandyopadhyay's defection the same day, a meeting at a Union Minister's home. This is not a slow drift — it is a coordinated exit. The real question for Mamata Banerjee is not whether the defamation suit succeeds in court, but whether the TMC's internal narrative-management has already failed in the court of public opinion.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar send a legal notice to Mamata Banerjee?
Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar sent the notice on 13 June over statements he described as false and defamatory, specifically denying that he had sought an MLA ticket from Barasat and rejecting allegations that his family regularly consumed alcohol. He has demanded a public apology and retraction from Mamata Banerjee and the other named TMC leaders.
Who are the recipients of the legal notice?
The notice is addressed to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC MPs Sougata Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, and Mahua Moitra, as well as former TMC leader Sonali Guha. It was prepared by advocate Pooja Shukla and is expected to be formally served on Monday.
What claims did TMC leaders make against Baidyanath and his family?
TMC leaders, including Sonali Guha, reportedly claimed that Kakali Ghosh Dastidar turned rebel because the party denied her son a ticket to contest from the Barasat Assembly seat. Guha allegedly also stated that Baidyanath, his brother, and his mother regularly consumed alcohol — allegations Baidyanath has flatly denied.
Are the rebel TMC MPs joining the BJP?
Yes, the rebel TMC bloc led by Kakali Ghosh Dastidar has decided to align with the BJP-led NDA. The group has already met Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, with West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari present. Sudip Bandyopadhyay joined the rebel camp on Saturday, the same day the legal notice was sent.
What happens if the named TMC leaders do not respond to the notice?
Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar has stated that he will pursue all available legal remedies, including formal defamation proceedings, if an appropriate apology and retraction are not forthcoming from the named individuals.
