A dispute within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is intensifying after psychiatrist Dr. Baidyanath Ghosh Dastidar, the son of rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, issued a legal notice to several senior party figures, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. According to reports, the notice is sent through advocate Pooja Shukla and seeks retraction of statements and a public apology.
Dr. Dastidar denies that he sought or lobbied for a TMC nomination for the Barasat Assembly constituency. He says allegations that his refusal to pursue the seat influenced his mother’s stance are false, and he argues the claims harm his personal and professional reputation. The notice also alleges that he was repeatedly approached by people linked to political consultancy and local leadership to consider entering politics, contradicting claims that he pursued a ticket.
The legal notice additionally objects to remarks attributed to party leader Sonali Guha, which Dr. Dastidar describes as baseless and defamatory. The recipients are reportedly asked to withdraw the statements, refrain from further references to him in political discussions, and issue a clarification within a specified period, failing which defamation proceedings are threatened.
