In a political storm that rocked the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior leader and Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee resigned as the party's chief whip following a heated verbal exchange with fellow party MP Mahua Moitra. The spat, filled with personal and offensive remarks, forced Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee to step in during a virtual meeting and urge her MPs to stop fighting internally and instead focus on countering the Centre on pressing issues like the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The controversy began when Mahua Moitra, in a podcast, called Kalyan Banerjee a "pig," responding to his earlier statements about her personal life and marriage to former BJD MP Pinaki Mishra. “You don’t wrestle with a pig. Because the pig likes it and you get dirty,” she said, sparking a social media frenzy.
Kalyan Banerjee had previously accused Moitra of being "anti-woman" and alleged she was responsible for breaking a 40-year-old family. His comments, deemed misogynistic by many, questioned her personal choices rather than engaging with her politically. He said, She is back from her honeymoon. She has broken a man’s family of 40 years and married a 65-year-old man. She is calling me anti-woman?
At a closed-door virtual meeting with party MPs, Mamata Banerjee addressed the conflict. Following her remarks about the lack of coordination and discipline among MPs, Kalyan Banerjee announced his resignation, accepting the blame for the infighting.
In response to the public feud, Mahua Moitra stated, “Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them.” Her post was widely circulated, with many praising her stand while others criticized the language used.
Kalyan Banerjee, in a lengthy post on X, condemned Moitra’s remarks, stating, Labeling a male colleague as 'sexually frustrated' isn’t boldness – it’s outright abuse. He emphasized that abuse, irrespective of gender, should be treated with equal seriousness. He further added that comparing an MP to a "pig" was degrading and crossed the line of civil discourse.
The political drama underscores the growing internal tensions within TMC and highlights the challenges party leadership faces in maintaining unity. With both MPs refusing to back down, Mamata Banerjee's call for discipline may be the first of many efforts to regain control over a party often known for its fiery personalities and vocal dissent.
