Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attends CM Adhikari's meet days after TMC exit
Synopsis
Just days after losing her Chief Whip role and resigning as Barasat TMC district president, senior MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar walked into CM Suvendu Adhikari's administrative meeting — alongside three sitting Trinamool MLAs. Her own social media post about 'four decades of loyalty' unrewarded has already set tongues wagging. West Bengal's political watchers are now asking whether this is administrative routine or the opening act of a defection.
Key Takeaways
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attended CM Suvendu Adhikari 's administrative meeting at Kalyani on Tuesday , days after resigning as Barasat TMC organisational district president .
Three Trinamool Congress MLAs — Anisur Rahaman Bidesh , Bina Mondal , and Abdul Matin — from North 24 Parganas were also present.
Dastidar was recently removed as Chief Whip of the Trinamool Parliamentary Party ; the role was given to Sreerampur MP Kalyan Banerjee .
Following her removal, Dastidar posted on social media: 'Today I am rewarded for four decades of loyalty' — widely interpreted as a grievance signal.
BJP sources said the Trinamool representatives were invited on the Chief Minister's orders; CM Adhikari had previously stated Opposition members would be called to administrative meetings.
Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attended Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's administrative meeting in Kalyani, Nadia district on Tuesday, just days after resigning as the party's Barasat organisational district president — a move that has sharply intensified speculation about her political future. Three sitting Trinamool Congress MLAs from North 24 Parganas were also present at the gathering held at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium.
Who Was at the Meeting
Apart from Dastidar, the Trinamool MLAs in attendance were Anisur Rahaman Bidesh from Deganga, Bina Mondal from Swarupnagar, and Abdul Matin from Haroa. The meeting brought together administrative officers from North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Hooghly districts. According to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources, the Trinamool representatives — including Dastidar — were invited on the Chief Minister's direct orders.
What the MLAs Said
Each of the three Trinamool legislators framed their attendance in administrative, not political, terms. Mondal stated, 'I have come to this administrative meeting for the development of my Assembly constituency.' Matin said, 'The state government called me. That is why I have come. I cannot say what happened before. I have come as an MLA.' Bidesh noted, 'Most of my Assembly constituency is marginalised. The state government's cooperation is desirable for overall development.'
Context: Dastidar's Mounting Estrangement From TMC
Dastidar's presence carries particular weight given a series of recent setbacks within the party. She was removed from the post of Chief Whip of the Trinamool Parliamentary Party, a responsibility subsequently handed to Sreerampur MP Kalyan Banerjee. Shortly after, she resigned as Barasat organisational district president on Sunday. Following her removal as Chief Whip, Dastidar made a pointed post on social media, writing: 'Known her since 76, started the journey in 84. Today I am rewarded for four decades of loyalty.' — a remark widely read as an expression of grievance.
The BJP's Cross-Party Outreach Argument
Notably, after forming the government, Chief Minister Adhikari had publicly announced that representatives from Opposition parties would also be invited to administrative meetings — a stated policy of inclusive governance outreach. The BJP has maintained there is no political dimension to Tuesday's gathering, a position echoed by the attending Trinamool MLAs. This is not the first time such cross-party administrative meetings have drawn scrutiny in West Bengal's charged political environment.
What Happens Next
Dastidar has not made any public statement clarifying her political intentions following Tuesday's meeting. With her organisational role gone and her parliamentary position diminished, observers in state politics are watching closely for her next move. Whether Tuesday's attendance signals a formal realignment or remains a one-off administrative engagement is likely to become clearer in the days ahead.
Point of View
Then the district presidency, then a pointed social media post about unrewarded loyalty: Dastidar has followed the classic pre-defection script in West Bengal politics almost to the letter. The BJP's 'no politics here' framing is convenient cover that serves both sides — it gives Dastidar deniability and Adhikari a recruitment optic without formal commitment. If TMC's leadership does not move quickly to address her grievances, this administrative meeting may well be remembered as the moment the door opened.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar attend CM Suvendu Adhikari's meeting?
Dastidar attended an administrative meeting convened by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Kalyani on Tuesday. BJP sources said she was invited on the CM's orders, and Adhikari had previously announced that Opposition party representatives would be called to such meetings.
What posts has Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar recently lost in Trinamool Congress?
Dastidar was removed as Chief Whip of the Trinamool Parliamentary Party — a role given to Sreerampur MP Kalyan Banerjee — and subsequently resigned as Barasat organisational district president on Sunday, days before the meeting.
What did Kakoli Dastidar post on social media after her removal?
After being removed as Chief Whip, Dastidar wrote on social media: 'Known her since 76, started the journey in 84. Today I am rewarded for four decades of loyalty.' The post was widely read as a public expression of grievance against the party.
Were other Trinamool leaders present at Adhikari's meeting?
Yes. Three Trinamool MLAs from North 24 Parganas — Anisur Rahaman Bidesh (Deganga), Bina Mondal (Swarupnagar), and Abdul Matin (Haroa) — also attended the meeting, each citing constituency development as their reason for attending.
Does Dastidar's attendance signal she is leaving Trinamool Congress?
No formal announcement has been made. However, the combination of her removal from key party posts, her resignation as district president, and her attendance at a BJP-led government meeting has intensified speculation about a possible political realignment.
