Marshals escort TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh out of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly during an uproar in the House on July 22. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh on Friday (July 24, 2026), moved a privilege motion against Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh in the West Bengal Assembly, alleging that he misbehaved during the Budget discussion and showed disregard for the Speaker’s authority.
Speaker Rathindra Bose said he would examine the matter before taking a decision, while Kunal Ghosh asserted that he did not intend to disrespect the Chair and expressed regret if his conduct was perceived otherwise.
TMC MLAs Kunal Ghosh and Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Thursday (July 23, 2026), entered the Well of the West Bengal Assembly to protest the Speaker’s description of the unruly incident involving Mr. Ghosh’s expulsion on July 22 as a ‘scandalous chapter’ in the history of the House.
Mr. Ghosh was removed from the House for a day on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), following a ruckus during the debate on the Home Department’s Budget.
According to the notice sent by the BJP legislator, Mr. Kunal’s ‘grossly disorderly’ behaviour was witnessed in the House during the discussion of the demand-wise budget on Thursday (July 23, 2026).
“It has been alleged [in the notice] that Mr. Ghosh had a deliberate intention to challenge and disregard the authority of the Chair with a specific intention to obstruct proceedings of the House,” the Speaker said.
Moving the motion, Mr. Shankar alleged that the action of the TMC legislator, who was a journalist and a former Rajya Sabha member, had undermined the dignity of the Assembly.
“Going by my experience of being in the Assembly in the past five years, I would also admit that I do not have any experience of 30 years of journalism or being in the Rajya Sabha,” the BJP leader said.
“The manner in which he behaved was a deliberate attempt to lower the dignity of the authority of the Speaker before the House and also the public,” Mr. Shankar said.
“Such conduct also lowers the dignity of the House as a whole since the Speaker is the custodian of the House. Moreover, the very gesture of Mr. Ghosh does not hide his intention of ridiculing the person holding a constitutional post. Mr. Ghosh, in my opinion, has thus committed a great breach of privilege and contempt of the House,” he said.
Such conduct and behaviour are highly irresponsible and reckless, and deserve severe reprimand, Mr. Shankar said, urging the Speaker to take appropriate action in the matter.
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Ghosh said, “I never had any intention to insult the Speaker. But still, if you feel my behaviour was disrespectful to the Chair, I sincerely express regret.”
The TMC MLA said he was annoyed that his name was dropped by the Opposition Chief Whip from the list of speakers every time it was given.
“That I have insulted or disrespected the Chair is totally wrong. This has been misinterpreted and used in a way to attack me again,” he said. The Speaker said he would examine the matter before taking a decision. “This is now under my examination, and I shall give my ruling in due course,” Mr. Bose said.
Published – July 24, 2026 05:30 pm IST
