"Trinamool Congress MP Criticizes Colleague in Recent Verbal Assault"
In the political landscape of India, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been grappling with an internal feud between two of its prominent leaders, Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee. The conflict, which has seen public exchanges and significant repercussions, intensified after Mahua Moitra referred to Kalyan Banerjee as a "pig" during a podcast[1].
Banerjee, a four-time Member of Parliament and the former TMC Lok Sabha chief whip, condemned the "dehumanising" language and subsequently resigned from his position, citing poor coordination among MPs and implicitly blaming the party leadership[2][3][4].
The tension between the two leaders has a long history, with Banerjee accusing Moitra of ingratitude. He highlighted that he had defended her in Parliament during a controversy in 2023, but felt her behavior was ungrateful. Banerjee publicly apologised for supporting her and shared a video of his earlier support[3][4][5].
Moitra, in response, acknowledged the change in chief whip, which was seen as a pointed snub to Banerjee. In the latest episode (August 9, 2025), Banerjee dismissed Moitra as "below standard" and a "waste of time," signalling ongoing acrimony[1].
In an attempt to manage the internal unrest caused by this feud, TMC party chief Mamata Banerjee held an internal meeting where she criticised some MPs for bringing "disrepute" to the party without naming anyone directly[3].
This conflict reflects deep fissures within the TMC parliamentary party and ongoing tensions over leadership and discipline. It is believed that the resignation may be related to tension with Mahua Moitra and previous tension with Kirti Azad[6].
Banerjee has also publicly regretted his statements against Mamata Banerjee, the party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister. The feud has certainly added a new dimension to the political dynamics within the TMC[7].
At the time of filing this report, there was no immediate reaction from Mahua Moitra on Kalyan Banerjee's remarks.
Key points:
- Mahua Moitra referred to Kalyan Banerjee as a "pig" in a public podcast.
- Banerjee condemned the "dehumanising" language and resigned as TMC chief whip.
- Banerjee accused Moitra of ingratitude and apologized for defending her in the past.
- Moitra publicly acknowledged the change in chief whip as a political signal.
- The feud led to an internal party meeting with intervention by Mamata Banerjee.
- Banerjee later dismissed Moitra as "below standard" and a "waste of time," signalling ongoing acrimony[1][2][3][4][5].
This conflict highlights the complex dynamics within the TMC and the challenges faced by its leadership in maintaining party discipline and unity.
[1] The Indian Express [2] The Telegraph [3] NDTV [4] The Hindu [5] CNN News18 [6] Outlook India [7] India Today
War-and-conflicts within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have intensified due to an internal feud between Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee, causing significant disruption in policy-and-legislation and creating a general-news story. The conflict reached new heights when Moitra used derogatory language towards Banerjee during a podcast, leading to Banerjee's resignation as TMC Lok Sabha chief whip.
