Kalyan Banerjee defends Mamata, says she is a 'Bar Council Member' since 1985

Senior advocate and TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee launched a fierce defense of Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, May 14, 2026, following a Bar Council of India (BCI) inquiry into her legal credentials. Banerjee asserted that the former Chief Minister has been a registered member of the Bar Council since 1985 and that the current scrutiny is an "unnecessary controversy". His comments came after Mamata Banerjee personally appeared in lawyer’s robes at the Calcutta High Court to argue against alleged post-poll violence targeting TMC workers.

During the hearing, Kalyan Banerjee echoed the former CM’s concerns, emphasizing that the safe return of displaced citizens is a primary responsibility of the police. He accused the state police under the new Suvendu Adhikari-led government of failing to protect victims whose homes and shops have been vandalized. "If the police do not fulfill their duty, I will file a case for contempt of court," Banerjee warned, specifically targeting the administration for what he described as partisan negligence.

In a sharp political jab, Banerjee compared the current situation to his previous legal battles during the Left Front era. He claimed that just as he had "woken up" former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s administration, he would do the same for the current BJP-led government. He issued a stern reminder of his legal record, stating he had successfully sent two IPS officers to jail in the past and would not hesitate to take similar action against any official failing to work according to the law.