BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay Responds to EC Notice on Comments About Mamata Banerjee

In a recent development, the Election Commission (EC) received a response from former Calcutta High Court judge and BJP candidate, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, regarding a show-cause notice issued to him. The notice was in relation to comments made by Gangopadhyay about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which were deemed undignified. These remarks were made during a public meeting in Haldia on May 15, prompting action from the EC following a complaint by the Trinamool Congress.

The EC's decision to issue the notice came after evaluating the complaint against Gangopadhyay's comments towards Banerjee. The official statement from the EC highlighted that Gangopadhyay's remarks were considered "beyond dignity in every sense of term and in bad taste," potentially violating the Model Code of Conduct and its advisory to political parties. The deadline set by the EC for Gangopadhyay to submit his response was 5 PM on May 20, which he complied with.

With the response now forwarded to the EC's Delhi office, senior officials are expected to review it before making any further decisions. This incident places Gangopadhyay among the fourth politician in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections to face scrutiny for undignified remarks towards women. Prior instances involved BJP’s senior leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress’s Supriya Shrinate, who were both censured for their comments against Mamata Banerjee and Kangana Ranaut, respectively.

Gangopadhyay is contesting from the Tamluk seat in West Bengal, with voting scheduled for May 25. The EC's action underscores its commitment to maintaining decorum and respect within political discourse, especially during the sensitive period of elections. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this will impact Gangopadhyay's campaign and the broader electoral process in West Bengal.