Election Commission Rebukes BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh for Offensive Comments on Mamata Banerjee

A day after receiving a censure letter from his party, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh was reprimanded by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday for his offensive comments on the ancestry of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

The showcause was issued in response to a complaint filed by the Trinamul Congress, and the commission cited many sections of its model code of conduct, rules, and advisory, in addition to other decisions made by high courts and the Supreme Court.

"The comment has been found to be offensive, insulting, and prima facie violative of the aforesaid provisions," the panel said.

The commission has informed Ghosh in writing that it would assume he has nothing to say on the subject if it doesn't hear back from him by Friday at 5 p.m. "...and the Election Commission will decide or take appropriate action on the matter without consulting you again," the statement said.

Congress spokeswoman Supriya Shrinate received a similar warning from the commission for the publication of a sexually suggestive tweet on her X account directed at BJP contender Kangana Ranaut. After removing the message, Shrinate said that someone who wasn't named had abused her account and decried the content.

Before the deadline, a source in the Bengal unit of the BJP's Ghosh faction promised to reply to the commission's request.

The MP for Midnapore has been a loose cannon since he was forced against his will to run for the Burdwan-Durgapur seat, which the BJP lost in 2019. It is generally accepted that Ghosh's tendency to stir up controversy with divisive statements in public was a major factor in his removal from the BJP as state president in 2021 (and later as national vice-president last year).

Arun Singh, the national general secretary of the BJP, gave Ghosh a warning on Tuesday, describing his comment as “improper and unparliamentary” and saying it went against the “traditions” of the party. The letter was written in Hindi.

"The party condemns such remarks," the letter said, adding that Ghosh should promptly provide an explanation and take the necessary action at the behest of BJP national president J.P. Nadda.

In a Wednesday interview with reporters, Ghosh apologized for apologizing despite being asked a lot of questions about the "woman card" and other whataboutery.

This is not the first time my comments have sparked controversy. For I am forthright and honest in my speech. What I've stated this time, however, is... I am not at odds with the honorable chief minister personally. I don't think I have anything against her. I had doubts about things she had stated frequently to mislead the public, he said.

"The matter at hand is whether or not my language and word choice offended a lot of individuals. My party has also said this. It has been said by some to be "unparliamentary." I apologize if that is indeed the case," Ghosh said.

But he was eager to point out that insulting comments made against other members of his party, such Suvendu Adhikari, the head of the opposition in the assembly, did not elicit the same indignation, explaining the difference by pointing out that they were males.

"Just because they are guys, does that mean they don't deserve dignity? There will only be consideration for a woman's dignity because she is a woman. At any moment, the lady card would be displayed. I'd objected to it. The MP said, "I don't want to say anything more about this.

A statutory showcause from Nirvachan Sadan would not enough, according to Trinamul, which followed up its Tuesday complaint with a delegation of ten people dispatched to the chief election officer of Bengal on Wednesday. Trinamul said that Ghosh was a "habitual offender."

Shashi Panja, the industries minister, said after the demonstration, "We will wait, but we are still hoping for severe action from the Election Commission."

Reporting by Pheroze L. Vincent in addition