TMC feud escalates: Kalyan Banerjee quits as party chief whip; slams Mahua Moitra’s ‘abusive’ remarks | India News
NEW DELHI: Senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee quit from his post as party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha, news agency PTI reported citing sources.The development comes amid a long acerbic confrontation between Banerjee and his fellow party colleagues, in particular party MP Mahua Moitra.Minutes before the news broke, the Serampore MP in a post on social media platform X criticised Moitra for the alleged comments made by her during a public podcast.He said, “I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Ms Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a “pig”, is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse.”Banerjee went on to defend himself saying the questions raised by him were about conduct of public figures and not misogynistic or anti-women, alleging that uncivilised remarks and insinuations without substance only shows vulnerability. He added, “those who think invective can replace substance should take a hard look at the kind of politics they are practising – and the hollowness it exposes.When a public representative stoops to name-calling and coarse innuendo, it reflects not strength, but insecurity. Let me state this clearly: What I did speak about were questions of public accountability and personal conduct, which every public figure must be prepared to face — man or woman. If those facts are inconvenient or uncomfortable, it does not justify branding legitimate criticism as “misogyny” to escape scrutiny.” The TMC veteran further accused the Krishnanagar MP of resorting to personal attacks to deflect attention from her own failures and evade serious questions over her performance as public representative. He wrote, “labeling a male colleague as ‘sexually frustrated’ isn’t boldness — it’s outright abuse. If such language were directed at a woman, there would be nationwide outrage, and rightly so. But when a man is the target, it’s dismissed or even applauded. Let’s be clear: abuse is abuse — regardless of gender. Such remarks are not just indecent, they reinforce a toxic double standard where men are expected to silently endure what would never be tolerated if roles were reversed. If Ms Moitra thinks that flinging gutter insults will mask her own failures or distract from serious questions about her record, she is deluding herself. Those who rely on abuse instead of answers are not champions of democracy – they are its embarrassment, and the people of this country can see through that act.”The public feud between two of TMC’s most vocal faces dates back to April, when Moitra reportedly confronted Banerjee in parliament building in front of fellow MP’s and party colleagues, after her name was omitted from a party delegation memorandum, leading to a tense altercation.Banerjee later accused Moitra of asking security personnel to arrest him and called her “rude” and “uncivilised.”Earlier while responding to Moitra’s criticisms of him being “anti-woman,” he took a dig at her personal life, raising questions about her divorce and and decision to marry again.
