Kalyan Banerjee Blames Mahua for Breaking Marriage, Fueling Gender War

Banerjee went further, calling Moitra the “most anti-woman” for allegedly prioritizing personal gain over values. He claimed she only knows “how to secure her future and make money.” This outburst came in direct response to Moitra’s condemnation of his controversial remark on the Kolkata gang-rape case, where he had questioned “what can be done if a friend rapes a friend.” His comment drew nationwide criticism for trivializing sexual assault.

Rather than addressing the criticism, Banerjee escalated the feud with personal attacks—igniting a public rift that reflects deeper fault lines within the TMC. This is not the first time the two have clashed; earlier this year, Banerjee was caught in a leaked WhatsApp conversation mocking Moitra as a “versatile international lady,” adding fuel to speculations about growing hostility.

TMC Faces Meltdown as Misogyny, Rape Remarks Trigger Public Outrage

The fallout from the Banerjee–Moitra feud has forced the TMC to issue a formal disclaimer. The party distanced itself from Banerjee’s statements, asserting that his views are personal and do not reflect the party’s position on women’s safety or internal discipline. However, the damage may already be done.

Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Parliament last year over an alleged ethics breach, has since rebuilt her image as a vocal critic of both patriarchy and authoritarianism. Her rebuke of Banerjee’s rape remark was seen as an attempt to protect TMC’s progressive image—but now, the internal attacks threaten to unravel that very credibility.

Political analysts say this public feud distracts from core issues, especially at a time when Kolkata is reeling from the brutal rape of a law student inside her college campus. Instead of uniting to demand justice, TMC leaders are locked in a toxic blame game, making headlines for the wrong reasons.