State Assembly Speaker suspends 4 BJP MLAs amid protests

PTI, KOLKATA, JUNE 23, 2025 :  The West Bengal Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Monday, leading to the suspension of four BJP MLAs, including chief whip Shankar Ghosh, from the House.

Around 40 BJP MLAs, led by Ghosh, were protesting the expunging of party legislators' comments, including those of noted economist-turned-party MLA Ashok Lahiri, on Thursday. As the House assembled during the day, the BJP MLAs repeatedly interrupted minister Chandrima Bhattacharya's speech, prompting Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay to first ask the legislators to take their seats, and when they did not budge, order the suspension of four legislators from the House for the ongoing session, which will end on Tuesday.

Ghosh and three other BJP MLAs — Agnimitra Paul, Dipak Barman, and Manoj Oraon — were suspended from the House for misconduct, disobeying the Speaker's orders, tearing business papers, and hitting microphones on their tables.

Before leaving, there were angry exchanges between Paul and TMC MLA Asima Patra, but other TMC legislators prevented an escalation. Ghosh and the three other BJP MLAs were led away from the House by Assembly security staffers. Other BJP MLAs continued to stage protests for another 20 minutes before staging a walkout.

As the Speaker continued with the proceedings, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari approached his Chair and sought to register a protest against the action taken against the MLAs.

"Please leave the House. This is not the way," Bandopadhyay said.

To the demands made by TMC chief whip Nirmal Ghosh and minister Firhad Hakim about actions for damaging microphones, he said:

"I will look into the issue. Action will be taken against those who did such an act."