New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has lost the chairmanship of two key parliamentary standing committees following the annual reconstitution of department-related parliamentary standing committees for 2026-27.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi has been appointed chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Commerce, replacing TMC’s Dola Sen. Meanwhile, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who leads a rebel faction of the TMC, has replaced her former party colleague Kirti Azad as chairperson of the Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers.

The committees were reconstituted on Saturday by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The changes took effect as part of the annual restructuring of the department-related standing committees.

While several chairpersons from the ruling alliance and Opposition have retained their positions, the changes in the Commerce and Chemicals and Fertilisers committees have altered the TMC’s representation in committee leadership.

Sudhanshu Trivedi replaces Dola Sen

The most prominent change involving the TMC is in the Commerce Committee, where BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi has taken over from Dola Sen.

Sen had chaired the committee during the previous term. A Rajya Sabha Secretariat release in March 2026 identified her as chairperson when the panel presented its report on the Department of Commerce’s Demands for Grants for 2026-27.

Trivedi’s appointment places a BJP member at the head of the committee for the new parliamentary year.

The Commerce Committee examines matters relating to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and associated departments. Its work includes scrutiny of policies, programmes and demands for grants referred to it.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar takes over Chemicals and Fertilisers

The second change concerns the Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has been appointed chairperson, replacing former TMC MP Kirti Azad. Ghosh Dastidar is associated with the rebel faction of the TMC that has emerged following recent political realignments.

The change means the committee is no longer headed by a member of the main TMC organisation.

Ghosh Dastidar’s appointment comes amid wider changes in parliamentary representation following shifts in political affiliations. Reports have noted that several MPs have changed political alignment since the West Bengal Assembly election, contributing to changes in the composition and leadership of some committees.

Several Opposition leaders retain key posts

The reshuffle has not resulted in a change in leadership across all committees.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been reappointed chairperson of the Committee on External Affairs, while Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi continues to head the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik has also been reappointed chairperson of the committee dealing with Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav continues as chairperson of the Committee on Health and Family Welfare.

The continuation of these appointments means several Opposition leaders retain positions at the head of parliamentary committees despite the changes involving the TMC.

DMK retains two committee chairmanships

The DMK has retained leadership of two important panels.

Tiruchi Siva continues as chairperson of the Committee on Industry, while K Kanimozhi remains chairperson of the Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

The DMK is an important constituent of the Opposition bloc, although it has also maintained a distinct political position on several issues in Parliament.

The retention of Siva and Kanimozhi means the annual reconstitution has preserved continuity in these two committees.

NDA allies retain committee positions

Several leaders belonging to parties allied with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance have also retained their chairmanships.

Sanjay Kumar Jha of the JD(U) continues to head the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.

Shrirang Barne of the Shiv Sena remains chairperson of the Committee on Energy.

Leaders from other NDA allies, including the TDP, have also retained committee leadership positions under the new arrangement.

The distribution shows that the reconstitution has involved both changes and continuity across parties rather than a complete replacement of existing chairpersons.

BJP retains several major committees

The BJP continues to hold the chairmanship of several significant parliamentary panels.

Radha Mohan Singh has been appointed chairperson of the Committee on Defence, while Bhartruhari Mahtab continues to head the Committee on Finance.

Radha Mohan Das Agarwal remains chairperson of the Committee on Home Affairs.

Former Union minister Anurag Thakur has been reappointed chairperson of the Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey continues to head the Committee on Communications and Information Technology, while Medha Vishram Kulkarni has been retained as chairperson of the committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

Other changes in committee leadership

The reshuffle has also brought changes to several other committees.

BJP’s Sujeet Kumar has replaced Brij Lal as chairperson of the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.

Sudheer Gupta has replaced C M Ramesh as chairperson of the Committee on Railways.

Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka has been reappointed chairperson of the Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

The changes are part of the annual process through which the department-related parliamentary standing committees are constituted and their chairpersons appointed.

TMC changes come amid wider political realignment

The loss of the two chairmanships comes against the backdrop of political changes involving TMC MPs.

The Commerce Committee change directly transfers the chairmanship from Dola Sen to a BJP MP, while the Chemicals and Fertilisers Committee has moved from Kirti Azad to Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is associated with the TMC’s rebel faction.

The reshuffle therefore reflects changes in the composition and political affiliations of members as well as the annual allocation of committee leadership.

Parliamentary standing committees play an important role in scrutinising government departments, examining legislation and reviewing demands for grants and policy implementation.

With most existing chairpersons retained and a smaller number of leadership positions changed, the 2026-27 reconstitution combines continuity with adjustments to several key committees.