The Election Commission Friday issued a show-cause notice to former Calcutta High Court judge and BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay over his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a recent election rally. The poll panel said the remarks were found to be “improper, injudicious and undignified”, and prima facie a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The Trinamool Congress had complained to the EC on Thursday, a day after Gangopadhyay, the BJP candidate from Tamluk, made the remarks at a rally in Purba Medinipur’s Haldia.
In his address, Gangopadhyay referred to the Sandeshkhali sexual abuse allegations and said: “Today, the Trinamool says everything is a lie. Rekha Patra (one of the protesters and BJP’s Basirhat candidate) was bought for Rs 2,000. Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? One gives you Rs 8 lakh and gets a job, one gives you Rs 10 lakh and ration vanishes… Why is your rate Rs 10 lakh? Is it because you get your makeup done by Keya Seth (Kolkata-based beautician)?…”
“How can a woman make such a comment about another woman (Patra), we can’t understand? Is Mamata Banerjee even a woman? I wonder sometimes,” Gangopadhyay said.
The EC said that upon examination the remarks were found to be “improper, injudicious, beyond dignity in every sense of term, in bad taste and to be prima facie violative of the… MCC and Commission’s advisory dated March 1, 2024”.
It sought a response from the former judge by 5 pm on May 20.
West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja said Friday, “How can a former judge make such a comment on a woman Chief Minister. The comment is so derogatory that I cannot repeat it. Is this BJP’s culture? No BJP leader has protested against the comment. However, BJP’s silence is expected as their Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) never uttered a word on Manipur. They never took steps against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.”
Trinamool Congress leader Santanu Sen and Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare, Chandrima Bhattacharya, among other ruling party leaders, condemned Gangopadhyay’s comment.
“A leader who has worked as a politically-minded upholder of the legal system and then went to the BJP, has made a disgusting comment about the only woman Chief Minister of the country,” said Sen.
In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress said: “It is evident that the BJP leaders find it incredibly hard to fathom a woman in power challenging their authority. Their archaic mindset, steeped in gender biases, is blatantly on display.”
According to the Model Code of Conduct, parties and candidates should not criticise aspects of private lives of opponents; should not make unverified allegations; and should not make statements that may be malicious or offending decency and morality.
In its March 1 advisory to parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the EC had reminded them to follow the model code and maintain decency in political discourse. It also said that parties and candidates should refrain from any action that may be seen as repugnant to the dignity of women.