West Bengal assembly in turmoil: BJP MLAs suspended amid chaotic protests

A dramatic session saw the suspension of four BJP legislators after persistent disruptions, igniting heated debates

Kolkata: In a dramatic session at the West Bengal Assembly on Monday, Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay suspended four BJP MLAs including chief whip Shankar Ghosh from the House after prolonged disruptions. Around 40 BJP MLAs, led by Ghosh, took part in a protest against the expunging of party legislators’ comments (including those from noted economist-turned-party MLA Ashok Lahiri) on Thursday. Their repeated interruptions during minister Chandrima Bhattacharya’s speech forced the Speaker to take the unprecedented step while the session, set to end on Tuesday, continued.

When the legislators failed to comply with the Speaker’s repeated orders to take their seats, Ghosh along with Agnimitra Paul, Dipak Barman, and Manoj Oraon were suspended for misconduct, disobeying the Speaker, tearing business papers, and hitting microphones on their tables. These four MLAs were led away from the House by assembly security staffers, while other BJP legislators continued their protest for an additional 20 minutes before staging a walkout.

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Amid the ensuing chaos, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari approached his chair to register a protest against the suspension, prompting Speaker Bandyopadhyay to warn, “Please leave the House. This is not the way.” In response to demands from TMC chief whip Nirmal Ghosh and minister Firhad Hakim regarding the damage to microphones, the Speaker asserted, “I will look into the issue. Action will be taken against those who did such an act.”

Reports later from the assembly floor revealed that several BJP MLAs were allegedly physically assaulted by “TMC men masquerading as security personnel brought from Baruipur, a TMC stronghold in South 24 Parganas.” During the altercation, Ghosh’s spectacles were broken and the personal belongings of other MLAs were damaged. “As I tried to submit these broken articles on the Speaker’s table, he rudely asked me and other BJP MLAs accompanying me to leave the floor immediately. On the one hand, he is not taking action against our assaulters and on the other, he is throttling the voice of the opposition. We will bring a no confidence motion against the speaker in the winter session of the assembly,” Adhikari said.

Additionally, Speaker Bandyopadhyay later informed reporters that 14 assembly security staffers were injured while attempting to remove the suspended MLAs. He also mentioned that if allegations of damage to items including BJP members’ spectacles, watches, and the microphones are substantiated, the cost would be recovered from the legislators’ salaries.

Before leaving, an angry exchange occurred between BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul and TMC MLA Asima Patra, although other TMC legislators intervened to prevent further escalation. With tensions high and accusations flying from all sides, the assembly session ended with unresolved disputes as both parties prepared for further action.