The Trinamool Congress on Friday wrote to the Election Commission demanding action against BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay over his “misogynistic” comments against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
A video circulating online purportedly shows the High Court judge-turned-politician targeting the Trinamool chief. However, the BJP has claimed that the video was fake and used by Trinamool to malign the BJP. “We don’t agree with the existence of any such videos. This is a ploy by the TMC to release fake videos and malign the BJP. But that won’t make any difference in the elections,” BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told news agency PTI on Thursday.
In its letter, the Trinamool Congress hit out at the “very shameful and egregious statement” made by the BJP leader and alleged that comments showed Mr Gangopadhyay’s “misogynistic mindset”.
“Mr. Gangopadhyay’s vulgar and uncouth remark(s)/comment(s) are completely beyond the grounds of decency and morality. They not only lack decorum but also exhibit a blatant disregard of the only lady Chief Minister, Smt. Mamata Banerjee,” the letter read.
The Trinamool Congress demanded that the poll body issue orders to initiate criminal proceedings against the BJP’s Tamluk candidate and ban him from attending public meetings or rallies. The letter also sought directions to be issued to BJP candidates, barring them from making “personal, objectionable and disgraceful” remarks.