Formalising Reality: TMC Picks Mamata Banerjee as Parliamentary Party Chief

'Our chairperson is a seven-time Member of Parliament,' TMC MP Derek O'Brien said.

File image of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

(Photo: Meghna Prakash/The Quint)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien on Friday, 23 July, informed that MPs from the party have unanimously chosen party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to be the chairperson of the parliamentary party.

Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, O'Brien said:

"We are just formalising a reality. Our chairperson is a seven-time Member of Parliament. She has the vision to guide the parliamentary party. She has the experience and insight. She was anyway guiding us."

Further, stating that Banerjee has always been "a call away" and that "we feel more empowered", the MP also reportedly informed that the decision has been taken at both a conceptual, as well as tactical level.

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Mamata Banerjee, who is not a member of the Parliament, is succeeding MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay as the parliamentary party's chairperson.

Earlier on Friday, TMC MP Shantanu Sen was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remaining part of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament after a motion was passed in the House.

Sen had, on Thursday, 22 July, purportedly snatched a paper from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while he was speaking on the Pegasus ‘snooping’ controversy in the Upper House.

Responding to questions regarding the same, Derek O'Brien according to NDTV said that the party was "not bothered" by the suspension.

"The people will suspend them (the BJP). Our colleague Mohua (Moitra) has moved a privilege motion (against the suspension)."

He also reportedly said:

"We want the Parliament to run. We want two or three issues to be discussed. Pegasus issue needs to be discussed... We want the farm laws to be repealed."