Opposition leaders on Thursday approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the withdrawal of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee’s suspension.
The delegation, which met Birla, included Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and TMC MP Mahua Moitra. Banerjee, a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was suspended on Wednesday for the remainder of the session over what the Chair described as “unsavoury” remarks directed at women members.
The suspension followed a heated exchange inside the Lok Sabha chamber between Banerjee and some former TMC leaders who have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The confrontation took place after the House was adjourned following repeated Opposition protests. The NCPI members involved in the exchange included Mitali Bagh, Shatabdi Roy and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. The exact trigger for the argument remains unclear, but some MPs intervened to defuse tensions before Banerjee left the chamber.
Later, Bagh, Dastidar and others met Speaker Om Birla and raised the issue. Following a complaint from members, the matter was taken up in the House. When proceedings resumed at 2 pm on Wednesday, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was chairing the session, informed members that a complaint had been submitted against Banerjee and said his remarks had affected the dignity of the House.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal then moved a resolution seeking Banerjee’s suspension, which was passed through a voice vote amid Opposition protests.
Opposition MPs raised slogans over the NEET paper leak controversy and other issues as the resolution was adopted. Tenneti subsequently directed Banerjee to leave the House premises, following which proceedings were adjourned for the day. Sources said MPs accompanying Banerjee told the Speaker that the exchange occurred after formal proceedings had ended and urged him to reconsider the suspension. The Speaker may review the decision, sources indicated.
The controversy comes at a time when Parliament has already witnessed repeated disruptions over the NEET examination controversy, with the Opposition demanding discussions and greater accountability from the government.