Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | Kolkata | 29 June 2025 : A political storm is brewing within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as internal dissent and accusations of misogyny surface following controversial remarks made by two senior leaders regarding the rape of a law student at Kasba Law College.
The controversy began after MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra made public statements about the incident, which were widely criticized for being insensitive and inappropriate. While the TMC leadership promptly distanced itself, calling the comments “personal opinions,” the fallout within the party has taken a sharply personal turn.
In a pointed statement, TMC MP Mahua Moitra raised the issue of misogyny without naming anyone directly, saying,
“Whoever makes misogynistic comments, Trinamool stands against them.”
Despite the lack of direct reference, it was widely inferred that Moitra was targeting Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra, both of whom have come under fire in recent days.
Responding sharply, Kalyan Banerjee lashed out at Mahua Moitra, saying:
“I am a misogynist, but only in the case of one person — Mahua Moitra. I hate her.”
In further incendiary remarks, he added:
“Mahua Moitra started following me around after returning from a one-and-a-half-month honeymoon. She doesn’t allow any other woman leader space in Krishnanagar.”
This latest exchange underscores the long-standing friction between Banerjee and Moitra, especially within parliamentary circles. According to party insiders, tensions between the two leaders have often flared in public forums, including within the Lok Sabha.
This is not the first time internal conflicts have spilled into the open. In a previous instance, another female TMC MP had exited the party’s WhatsApp group and written directly to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing her displeasure over repeated disrespect and harsh treatment from senior party colleagues.
The ongoing infighting comes at a sensitive time for the TMC, as the party is under public scrutiny for its handling of crimes against women and internal discipline.
With public confidence at stake and party unity appearing fragile, how the TMC leadership addresses these rising tensions — both on policy and personality — will likely determine the course of its internal cohesion in the coming days.
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