Kalyan Banerjee (Image/PTI)
NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday appointed Kalyan Banerjee as the new Chief whip of the Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabha replacing Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The announcement was made during an internal meeting of party MPs held at Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat as the party leadership sought to regroup after its recent electoral setback in West Bengal. Kalyan Banerjee, who had earlier been removed from the post amid internal turbulence within the party last year following a public spat with Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra has now been brought back at a time when the TMC is attempting to steady its organisation and parliamentary strategy.The reshuffle was seen by party insiders as a signal that the leadership continues to value political aggression and loyalty during difficult times. In recent months, Kalyan Banerjee emerged as one of the party’s most vocal legal and political faces, actively defending the TMC in court battles and public confrontations during the election period.While the party retained Abhishek Banerjee as leader of the party in the Lok Sabha and Shatabdi Roy as deputy leader, Kalyan Banerjee’s return was considered the most significant organisational decision taken during the meeting.According to party sources, the meeting at Kalighat had the feel of a regrouping exercise after the party’s defeat, with discussions focused on maintaining unity and rebuilding morale among MPs and workers, PTI reported.Several leaders reportedly viewed the move as recognition of Kalyan Banerjee’s aggressive role in defending the party politically and legally. “The leadership values those who stand up and fight in difficult times,” a senior TMC MP said after the meeting.During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee reportedly urged MPs to stay connected with their constituencies and maintain coordination with local leadership as the party attempts to recover from one of its toughest political phases in years.Addressing the MPs, Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the TMC had fought not just the BJP but ‘the entire machinery’ deployed by the saffron party during the elections. He also claimed there were irregularities during counting and alleged that TMC counting agents faced restrictions at several centres.Later, TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh struck a defiant note, claiming that the party was not afraid of setbacks.“TMC is not among those who are afraid or those who back down. Mamata Banerjee is a lioness, a fighter — she was before, and she will remain so. This vote is not the people’s mandate. The people of West Bengal did not want Mamata Banerjee’s government to be removed,” she said.