The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday said that it has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his alleged "vulgar and objectionable" remarks against party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
In a purported video that surfaced on Thursday, Gangopadhyay was heard wondering about "the amount at which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is getting sold," triggering a row with the TMC labelling it as the BJP's guarantee of disrespecting women, while the saffron party raised doubts about the clip's authenticity, as reported by news agency PTI.
The TMC claimed that remarks made by Gangopadhyay, who is a former judge of the Calcutta High Court, are a clear violation of the provisions of the IPC and MCC.
In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, the Mamata Banerjee-led party demanded a complete ban on Abhijit Gangopadhyay and an order against him and BJP leaders restraining them from making objectionable remarks.
The TMC took to social media platform X and shared a copy of the letter. The party said, "We've penned a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer against BJP MP candidate, Abhijit Gangopadhyay's derogatory remarks against Smt. @MamataOfficial, the only woman CM in the country."
"His vulgar and uncouth remarks are a clear violation of the provisions of IPC and MCC and we demand that: Criminal proceedings be initiated against Abhijit Gangopadhyay. A complete ban be imposed on him from participating in election-related activities. An order be issued restraining him and other BJP leaders from making such objectionable remarks," it said.
In another post on X, the TMC said, ""What's your price?" That's the repulsive language coming from Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former justice and BJP MP candidate, aimed at our Jononetri, Smt. @MamataOfficial. @DrShashiPanja condemned this appalling behaviour. After demeaning the dignity of women in Sandeshkhali, BJP leaders stoop to devaluing the integrity of the only female CM in India. DISGUSTING!".
On Friday, TMC leader and West Bengal minister Shashi Panja told reporters that Gangopadhyay, who is a former judge of the Calcutta High Court, has crossed all limits of decency by making 'sexist' remarks against Banerjee, PTI reported.
Gangopadhyay is a candidate and a former judge. He must be aware of legal matters than most of us. Can a candidate use such words, Panja wondered. "We have filed a complaint with the EC and also take legal recourse", she said, as quoted by PTI.
Panja said, "The remarks made by Gangopadhyay smacks of his anti-women traits. This shows that the politics of the BJP has reached a nadir," as quoted by PTI. "The remarks made by the BJP candidate of Tamluk are sexist in nature and his candidature must be cancelled", she demanded.