Mamata cuts short Kalyan Banerjee's Martyrs' Day speech, TMC MP walks out

Published 22 July 2026 · politics

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee stormed out of Mamata Banerjee faction's Martyrs' Day rally soon after his nearly 23-minute speech after he broke into a

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee stormed out of Mamata Banerjee faction's Martyrs' Day rally soon after his nearly 23-minute speech after he broke into a verbal spat with the party chief over the time he had taken, sources told India Today. Later, the Serampore MP said he was "extremely hurt" by what had happened. The row erupted after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the venue while Kalyan Banerjee was delivering his speech. He briefly paused to welcome her before resuming his address. Read Full Story As the programme ran behind schedule, Kalyan was asked to wrap up his speech. However, he continued speaking for about 22-and-a-half minutes. According to sources in the Mamata Banerjee camp, all leaders had been asked to keep their remarks brief because the list of speakers at the Birla Planetarium rally was unusually long. Instead, Kalyan used his address to target both the BJP and the breakaway Trinamool faction led by Assembly Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee. As he left the stage, Kalyan had a heated exchange with Mamata Banerjee before walking away.

Sources said that because of his prolonged speech, several leaders on the speakers' list did not get an opportunity to address the gathering. The High Court had directed that the rally conclude by 3 pm, while Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were yet to deliver their speeches. While leaving, Kalyan was heard telling Mamata Banerjee, "None of your MPs or MLAs are travelling across Bengal. They are sitting at home..." During his speech, Kalyan Banerjee said, "Mamata Banerjee alone is the Trinamool. The BJP-backed stage has been set up there, but the workers are not with them. Those BJP- MLAs dreaming of taking over are only digging their own grave." After the speech ended, Mamata Banerjee allegedly conveyed her displeasure over the delay, which was followed by a brief exchange of words. Kalyan Banerjee then left the stage without waiting for speeches by party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee or the TMC chief. Rejecting suggestions that he had spoken beyond the allotted time, Kalyan Banerjee said, "I did not exceed my time. While I was speaking, Abhishek Banerjee entered the stage, so I had to stop.

Then Didi entered, and I again paused my speech. I never exceeded my time. But I don't deserve such humiliation. I am extremely hurt by such behaviour. I am fighting so hard for the party when all others have left. I don't deserve this," he told PTI. Asked whether he had spoken to Mamata Banerjee after the episode, Kalyan Banerjee replied in the negative. When asked whether the incident could push him to leave the Mamata Banerjee camp, he said, "What sort of question is this?" Leaders in the Mamata Banerjee camp said the delay forced organisers to drop several scheduled speakers from the programme, including Lok Sabha MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, Rajya Sabha MPs Dola Sen and Sagarika Ghose, and Rajeev Kumar, PTI reported. The Trinamool Congress did not issue any official statement on the episode. The episode has drawn attention because Kalyan Banerjee is among the few senior leaders who have remained firmly with Mamata Banerjee following the Trinamool split after the BJP's victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.