Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar quits all TMC posts, cites cover-ups and misconduct
Synopsis
Four-time Trinamool MP Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has resigned all her party posts, citing the leadership's failure to stop misconduct by a fellow MP, attempts to cover up corruption, and its handling of the RG Kar rape-murder case. She stays on as an ordinary member — but her pointed letter is a rare public rebuke from within Mamata Banerjee's tightly controlled party.
Key Takeaways
Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar , four-time TMC MP from Barasat , resigned all party organisational posts on 27 May 2025 with immediate effect.
She cited 'indecent behaviour' by a fellow MP — an apparent reference to Chief Whip Kalyan Banerjee — and the leadership's failure to act.
She alleged the party was covering up corruption charges against a section of its leaders.
She expressed distress over Trinamool's handling of the August 2024 R.G.
Kar Medical College rape and murder case.
Despite the resignations, she said she will remain an ordinary Trinamool member.
The rift reportedly deepened after Mamata Banerjee replaced her as Lok Sabha Chief Whip following the West Bengal Assembly election results.
Veteran All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and four-time Member of Parliament Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Wednesday, 27 May resigned from all her organisational positions within the party with immediate effect, citing what she described as the leadership's failure to address misconduct by a colleague and its attempts to shield leaders facing corruption allegations.
The Resignation Letter
Ghosh Dastidar, who represents the Barasat constituency in North 24 Parganas, addressed her resignation to Trinamool state President Subrata Bakshi. 'With immense pain and concern, I am resigning from the post of Chairperson of All India Trinamool Mahila Congress and other organisational posts, committees and responsibilities of the party,' she wrote.
Without naming him directly, she took aim at the party's current Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee, who had replaced her in that role. 'There is no point in holding a post when the indecent behaviour of another uneducated, rude party MP towards a woman MP cannot be stopped, and the cooperation and sympathy of the senior leadership of the party cannot be obtained,' she stated in the letter.
Corruption Cover-Ups and the RG Kar Case
Ghosh Dastidar also alleged that the Trinamool leadership's efforts to shield certain leaders from corruption allegations had 'deeply pained' her. Notably, she flagged her distress over the party's handling of the August 2024 rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata — a case that triggered nationwide protests and drew sharp criticism of the West Bengal government's response.
Despite her sweeping resignations, she clarified that she will continue as an ordinary member of Trinamool, stopping short of a full break with the party.
Timeline of the Rift
The tensions between Ghosh Dastidar and the party high command reportedly began surfacing after the West Bengal Assembly election results, when TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee replaced her as Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha. Following that move, she made a pointed post on social media: 'Known her since 76, started the journey in 84. Today I am rewarded for four decades of loyalty.' She had earlier also stepped down from the post of Trinamool's organisational district President for Barasat.
Meeting With CM — A Day Before
Her resignation came just a day after she attended an administrative review meeting on Tuesday, 26 May, chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, where she had been invited in her capacity as the MP from Barasat. The timing of the resignation — the very next day — underscores the depth of her disillusionment with the party's internal workings.
This is the latest in a series of public dissent episodes within Trinamool, as the party navigates mounting internal pressures ahead of future electoral cycles. How the leadership responds to Ghosh Dastidar's pointed allegations will be closely watched by both party insiders and political observers in Bengal.
Point of View
But the social media trail and the formal letter make this harder to contain. The real question is whether this emboldens other disaffected voices within the party, or whether the leadership moves swiftly to isolate the episode before it compounds.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar resign from Trinamool Congress posts?
Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar resigned citing three reasons: the 'indecent behaviour' of a fellow MP toward a woman MP and the leadership's failure to intervene, alleged attempts by the party to cover up corruption against certain leaders, and distress over the party's handling of the August 2024 RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case.
Which posts did Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar resign from?
She resigned from the post of Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Mahila Congress and all other organisational posts, committees, and responsibilities within the party. She had earlier also stepped down as Trinamool's organisational district President for Barasat.
Will Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar leave Trinamool Congress entirely?
No. Despite resigning all organisational posts, she stated she will continue as an ordinary member of Trinamool Congress, stopping short of a full break with the party.
What is the background to her rift with the Trinamool leadership?
The rift reportedly began after the West Bengal Assembly election results, when TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee replaced Ghosh Dastidar as Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha with Kalyan Banerjee. She subsequently made a pointed social media post lamenting four decades of loyalty going unrewarded.
Who did Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar address her resignation letter to?
She addressed her resignation letter to Trinamool state President Subrata Bakshi, sending it on 27 May 2025 with immediate effect.
