Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (born 23 November 1959) is an Indian physician and politician from West Bengal. She is Chairperson of Banga Janani Bahini, a women's wing of Trinamool Congress. She is a member of 15th, 16th and 17th Lok Sabha, re-elected in 2014 Indian general election and 2019.[2][3]

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar
Member, Panel of Chairpersons for Lok Sabha
Assumed office
4 July 2019
Appointed byOm Birla
Preceded byRatna De (Nag)[fn 1]
Deputy Leader of Trinamool Congress, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
25 May 2009
LeaderMamata Banerjee
Sudip Bandyopadhyay
Preceded byPost re-established
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
16 May 2009
Preceded bySubrata Bose
ConstituencyBarasat
Personal details
Born
Kakali Moitra

(1959-11-23) 23 November 1959 (age 64)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Political partyTrinamool Congress
SpouseSudarshan Ghosh Dastidar
Children2
ResidenceMadhyamgram
Alma materKing's College London
R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital
ProfessionPhysician
Websitewww.winkakoli.com/
  1. ^ From Trinamool Congress faction.[1]
As of 17 September, 2009
Source: [1]

Early life

edit

Kakoli Ghosh was born on 23 November 1959. Her family has had a connection to West Bengal and Indian politics and government for three generations. Her maternal grandfather served as the postmaster general of West Bengal. Her paternal uncle, the late Arun Moitra, was a freedom fighter and a former Pradesh Congress President. Her maternal uncle, Gurudas Dasgupta, was also a Member of the Indian Parliament.

Early in his career, Mr. Moitra built his family farm in Digberia of Barasat in North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. Member of Parliament (MP) Ghosh grew up at her family's farm. Her husband, Dr. Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar, is an eminent infertility and IVF specialist and also ex minister of West Bengal.[4] They have two sons.[5]

Education

edit

Kakoli Ghosh gained her medical degree from R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, which was then affiliated with the University of Calcutta. She also did a Post Graduate Training in Obstetric Ultrasound from King's College London.[5]

Career

edit

She is now a member of the Committee on Home Affairs in the Lok Sabha (People's Chamber) of the Indian Parliament.[2]

Ghosh Dastidar grew up in a socio-political environment. Alongside having a family legacy of public service, the MP dedicated her life to serving the people of her community including providing health care for slum-dwelling citizens. She also helped implement a school and dispensary in South 24 Parganas for the children of trafficked women.[citation needed]

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, she won from Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency) by a margin of 1,22,901 votes.[4][6][7] She had earlier lost the elections from Diamond Harbour (Lok Sabha constituency),[8] Howrah (Lok Sabha constituency)[9] and Ballyganj assembly constituency.[10]

Controversies

edit

Park Street Rape Case

edit

When protests and demonstrations were at the peak for justice in 2012 Delhi gang rape case Ghosh Dastidar made very baseless and insensitive allegations against the Park Street Gang Rape victim. She said that the 'incident at Park Street was not a rape at all'. While making claim that the Park Street case and Delhi case cannot be compared she described Park Street case as a 'misunderstanding between a lady and her client,' thereby suggesting that the victim is a sex worker.[11]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Ten-member Panel of Chairpersons in Lok Sabha". The Economic Times. 9 June 2014. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Dr. Kakoli Ghosh". Lok Sabha Members – 15th Lok Sabha. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Kakoli Ghosh -Political Profile".
  4. ^ a b "Kakoli Ghosh". Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament 15th Lok Sabha". Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Parliament Election - 2009 West Bengal" (PDF). List Of Winners And Runners-Up With Winning Margin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Detailed Profile: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar". Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  8. ^ "17 - DIAMOND HARBOUR Parliamentary Constituency". Partywise Comparison Since 1977. Election Commission. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  9. ^ "24 – Howrah Parliamentary Constituency, West Bengal". Partywise Comparison since 1977. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  10. ^ "152 - Ballygunge Assembly Constituency". Partywise comparison since 1977. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  11. ^ "Now Trinamool MP says Park Street case not rape, denies".