Kalyan Banerjee Exits TMC Rally After Confrontation With Mamata Banerjee

Tensions on the Martyr’s Day Stage

The July 21 event featured separate stages across the city, with the Kalighat-aligned faction holding its program at the Birla Planetarium. According to reports, the schedule was tightly managed, with organizers issuing instructions for all speakers to deliver brief remarks due to a long list of participants. Kalyan Banerjee, the MP for Sreerampur, took the stage to address the crowd; however, sources indicated he spoke for approximately 22 and a half minutes, ignoring directives to conclude his speech.

The extended duration of his address reportedly disrupted the event’s timeline, resulting in several scheduled speakers being unable to deliver their remarks. Those listed to speak but ultimately excluded included Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen, Sagarika Ghose, and Rajeev Kumar.

Witnesses noted that during the speech, Mamata Banerjee entered the stage and gestured for the MP to finish his address. When the MP continued, MLA Kunal Ghosh, who served as the event’s moderator, reportedly attempted to intervene. Sources close to the stage leadership stated that after concluding his speech, Kalyan Banerjee was confronted by Mamata Banerjee in a tone described as “dhamok” (reprimanding). Following this exchange, the MP left the stage and walked to his residence, which is located three houses away from Mamata Banerjee’s home in Kalighat.

Conflicting Accounts of the Departure

While reports of a heated exchange circulated, the MP provided a different explanation when approached by journalists. Kalyan Banerjee told reporters that he left for personal reasons, though he indicated he might return to the event later. Other party sources suggested his departure was related to urgent legal work requiring his attendance at court.

Despite the tension, the MP’s speech had included strong rhetoric against political opponents. He stated, Mamatachara Trinamool, birodhi dol o jonota hoy na (Without Mamata, there is no Trinamool, no opposition party, and no public). He further remarked on the political opposition, asserting that those currently with the BJP had an expiry date of 2029. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee used the platform to critique “Naba Trinamool” (new Trinamool) members, stating, Khoma korun apnader ar proyojon nei (Forgive me, you are no longer needed) and advising them to join the BJP rather than being a “pash balish” (side pillow) for the party.

Legislative Scrutiny of the 1993 Firing Incident

The internal party friction occurred during a week of high political pressure. On Monday, July 20, 2026, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari tabled the report of the Justice Susanta Chatterjee (Retired) Commission on the floor of the West Bengal Assembly. The report investigated the deaths of 13 Youth Congress workers during police firing on July 21, 1993, a protest led by Mamata Banerjee, who was then the Youth Congress President in West Bengal and a Congress Lok Sabha MP from the Kolkata (Dakshin) constituency.

Chief Minister Adhikari informed the House that the report had not been made public during the 15-year Trinamool Congress regime from 2011 to 2026. He stated that Mamata Banerjee failed to appear before the Commission to record her testimony. Furthermore, Adhikari alleged that the previous state secretariat under the Trinamool government did not hand over relevant documents to the Commission. He noted that while Late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the former Chief Minister, appeared before the Commission to record his statement, other figures like Late Pankaj Banerjee refused, citing the fact that Manish Gupta—the Home Secretary at the time of the firing—was later given a “prime berth” in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet.

Adhikari criticized the previous administration for failing to implement the Commission’s compensation recommendations. The Commission had proposed Rs 25 lakh for the families of the 12 identified deceased and Rs 12 lakh for the injured. According to the Chief Minister, the previous government provided only Rs 2,00,000 to the families of the deceased and Rs 15,000 to the injured. Adhikari announced that his government would allow families to file fresh FIRs and would provide the difference in compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.