According to reports, Gangopadhyay, who seems to be claiming candidate for BJP’s ticket in Tamluk, came into limelight after a video of him got viral, whose authenticity is in doubt, where he is making some disparaging remarks about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This video has caused the current instability in the political setting of West Bengal. He is a former judge in the Calcutta High Court who appeared in a disputed video clip. A newly released film shows just how deep-rooted these conflicts continue getting worse each day between Mamata Banerjee’s party i.e., Trinamool Congress or TMC, and her rival party, the Bharatiya Janata Party also abbreviated as BJP.
According to the tape, Gangopadhyay questioned the price at which Mamata Banerjee was willing to sell herself and the TMC criticized this harshly. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party has labelled the video as forged or even doctored; arguing that the rival, Trinamool Congress, is behind a scheme aimed at soiling her reputation.
The TMC has reacted vehemently to the purported comments, with leaders condemning Gangopadhyay’s words as sexist and derogatory. Santanu Sen, a prominent TMC leader, expressed outrage, stating, “It is shameful that a former judge who is now a BJP candidate uses such words to malign a woman chief minister. This is the guarantee of the BJP that women under BJP rule will be insulted in this way.”
Facing sexist comments, TMC reacted instantaneously by complaining to the Election Commission about them and also urging the EC to take a strict stance on Gangopadhyay. The comments made are argued to not only be disrespectful to the chief minister but may also be seen as undermining the dignity of women in general.
The BJP has refuted the authenticity of the video, with party spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya asserting, “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.”
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The controversy stems from Gangopadhyay’s alleged remarks made during a rally in Chaitanyapur, East Midnapore. In the video, he is purportedly heard saying, “Trinamool says (BJP’s Sandeshkhali candidate) Rekha Patra was bought for Rs 2,000. So, Mamata Banerjee, what is your price, Rs 10 lakh?” These comments have sparked a fierce backlash, with the TMC questioning the BJP’s commitment to women’s rights.
Abhijit Gangopadhyay left his job as a judge this year in March to join the BJP shortly after. His candidature for Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency ahead of elections has marked another important occurrence and this controversy only emphasizes the intensity of the political struggle going on in West Bengal.
It looks evident that the ways the comments were taken and the political happenings afterwards has heightened tension as elections approaches West Bengal, a fact that underlines the stiff competition between TMC and BJP in the state.
