KolkataJun 23, 2025 15:57 IST First published on: Jun 23, 2025 at 15:57 ISTShareThe West Bengal Assembly descended into chaos on Monday as four BJP MLAs — Shankar Ghosh, Manoj Orao, Deepak Barman, and Agnimitra Paul — were suspended for the remainder of the session for what Speaker Biman Banerjee termed “unparliamentary conduct”.Earlier in the day, BJP MLA Ashok Lahiri, former Chief Economic Advisor for the Government of India and a professor at the Delhi School of Economics, raised a point of order over the alleged omission of a BJP member’s statement from the official records of a previous session.AdvertisementIn response, state Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “When the BJP is delivering a speech and Dr Lahiri is talking about his rights, then they should also realise their duty to listen. Otherwise, whatever the Speaker has done is right.”After this, BJP chief whip Shankar Ghosh wanted to speak, but the Speaker did not permit it, following which BJP MLAs began protesting by tearing paper.Speaker Banerjee bypassed the scheduled question-and-answer session amid the uproar and pressed ahead with discussions on a bill related to the Netaji Subhas Sports University. Proceedings were disrupted by shouting, scuffles with security personnel, and damage to Assembly property, including, the Speaker said, a microphone and a table. A privilege motion was moved by TMC MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, and Ghosh was among those forcefully removed by marshals on the Speaker’s orders.AdvertisementDespite being escorted out, the suspended MLAs continued their protest outside the Assembly. BJP MLA Sudeep Mukherjee allegedly grabbed a marshal’s collar and pushed him, while Mihir Goswami was also accused of manhandling security staff.Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, later entered the House alone, holding an object he tried to present to the Speaker, momentarily halting proceedings. Speaker Banerjee rebuked him, saying, “You cannot stop the work of the meeting like this.”most readAdhikari alleged that BJP MLA Subrata Maitra’s wristwatch was damaged and Shankar Ghosh’s spectacles were broken during the scuffle. The Speaker dismissed the claims, saying, “This is not a neighbourhood rock. Go outside and tell them.”As Adhikari continued his protest near the Speaker’s podium, TMC legislators Arup Biswas, Shobhandeb Chatterjee, Firhad Hakim, and Sujit Bose accused BJP members of vandalising desks during the uproar. The Speaker announced a formal inquiry into the alleged damage and ordered the Assembly’s main gate to be shut. “This is not a place for drama,” he said.Speaking to the media later, Adhikari said, “Trinamool has crossed all limits of decorum and culture. When Partha Chatterjee sat here with 30 MLAs, we never saw the Left behave like this with 235 members.” He added, “I gave evidence on the table — the broken watch of Subrata Maitra, the broken spectacles of Shantanu Pramanik and Shankar Ghosh — but instead, they are preparing documents. We are continuing this protest for the record.”