Lok Sabha Polls: EC Issues Notices To Cong's Supriya Shrinate, BJP's Dilip Ghosh Over Controversial Remarks

The EC has issued notices to Congress a Supriya Shrinate and BJP MP Dilip Ghosh for their controversial remarks.

Lok Sabha Elections: The Election Commission on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for their offensive remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kangana Ranaut respectively.

Ranaut has been fielded by the saffron party from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Their remarks were "undignified and in bad taste", the Election Commission (EC) said, as reported by news agency PTI.

The EC's move comes after a controversial comment was posted on social media platforms from Shrinate's accounts against the queen actor. Following a row, Shrinate removed the controversial remarks from all of her social accounts, claiming that they had been posted not by her but by someone else who had access to her accounts.

The poll panel said that prima facie, the two remarks were violative of the Model Code of Conduct and its advisory to political parties to maintain dignity during electioneering. 

On Tuesday, a controversy erupted after BJP MP Dilip Ghosh was heard mocking the family background of Mamata Banerjee in a purported video clip. The former West Bengal BJP president, presently contesting from the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, mocked TMC's slogan of "Bangla Nijer Meye ke chai (Bengal wants its own daughter)".

"When she goes to Goa, she says she is the daughter of Goa. In Tripura, she says she is the daughter of Tripura. First, let her clarify..." he said, as quoted by PTI. Ghosh, the sitting MP from the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat, was referring to the TMC's 2021 poll slogan, "Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chai."

On Wednesday, Ghosh apologised for his remarks. The apology came hours after the saffron party sought an explanation from Ghosh. Maintaining that his party and other people have reservations about his choice of words, Ghosh said, "If it is so, I am sorry for that," as quoted by PTI.

The TMC had filed a complaint with the EC against him over his comments, alleging that it violated the model code of conduct (MCC). The two have been asked to respond to the show-cause notices by March 29 evening.

Ghosh, a former state BJP president, clarified that he harbours no personal animosity towards the chief minister. "This is not the first time that a controversy has erupted over my comments since I say it on the face of anyone who does any wrong," he said.

He defended his statements as a response to Banerjee's political rhetoric, which he claimed aimed to "confuse" the public. Responding to criticism, Ghosh questioned the selective use of the "women card" by the TMC and cited derogatory remarks made by a TMC leader against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and his father. "Does Suvendu not expect respect because he is a man?" he asked, speaking to reporters in Durgapur, as quoted by PTI. He emphasised that respect should not be gender-specific, highlighting the need for parity in political discourse.