Kunal Ghosh marshalled out of Assembly, suspended after high-level drama
Confusion erupted in the West Bengal Assembly during a debate on the Home Department's budget when Kalighat-faction Trinamool leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay stood up to speak but was forced to sit down. The disturbance stemmed from internal divisions within the opposition Trinamool Congress, as different factions submitted competing lists of speakers to the Assembly secretary, creating ongoing uncertainty about who represents the opposition on the floor.
Raising the issue, Kaliganj MLA Alifa Ahmed drew attention to the situation, complaining that speaker names submitted by the Kalighat-aligned faction were consistently being cut from the list. She urged the Chief Minister to address the matter, emphasizing that every assembly member is entitled to designated speaking time and that prior clarity on the order of speakers is necessary for smooth proceedings.
In response, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari firmly rejected the plea to intervene, advising opposition members to resolve their internal rivalries independently. Adhikari noted that multiple opposition parties, including the ISF, CPI(M), and Congress, share parliamentary time and stated that neither the Chief Minister nor the House exists to mediate internal party disputes, urging them to allow the Assembly to function smoothly.