Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who joined the BJP after resigning as a Calcutta High Court judge, allegedly questioned the “price” of Mamata Banerjee. In response, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has approached the Election Commission, accusing Gangopadhyay of making misogynistic remarks against the West Bengal Chief Minister. Gangopadhyay, now a BJP candidate, made the controversial comments during an election rally in Chaitanyapur, East Midnapore.
Referring to claims that BJP candidate Rekha Patra was “bought” for ₹2000, Gangopadhyay allegedly said, “So, Mamata Banerjee, what is your price, ₹10 lakh?” as reported by the Times of India.
The TMC condemned the remarks, calling them a disgraceful attack on a female leader. TMC leader Santanu Sen criticized Gangopadhyay, stating, “It is shameful that a former judge and current BJP candidate uses such words to malign a woman chief minister. This shows how women will be treated under BJP rule.”
A video clip of the remarks has gone viral, though the BJP claims it is fake, accusing the TMC of trying to discredit them with doctored videos. BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the video’s authenticity, asserting it was a TMC ploy to tarnish the BJP’s image ahead of the elections.
Gangopadhyay is running for the Lok Sabha from West Bengal’s Tamluk. Earlier this month, he petitioned the Calcutta High Court, alleging police harassment after being charged with attempted murder, which he claims is an attempt to hinder his campaign efforts. The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, is facing a strong challenge from the BJP, which secured 18 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections.
