Don't wrestle with a pig: Mahua Moitra hits back at Kalyan Banerjee in escalating TMC feud
Kolkata: A simmering internal feud within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has exploded into a full-blown public confrontation, with MP Mahua Moitra referring to fellow party leader and senior parliamentarian Kalyan Banerjee using a scathing metaphor that likened him to a pig. The sharp remark, made during a podcast with India Today, is the latest flashpoint in a series of escalating clashes between the two leaders, highlighting deepening factionalism within the West Bengal-based party.
"You don't wrestle with a pig. Because the pig likes it and you get dirty," Moitra said during the interview, in clear reference to Banerjee. The comment came in response to Banerjee’s recent personal attacks on her marriage to former BJD MP and senior advocate Pinaki Misra.
Tensions between the two leaders intensified in June following a gang-rape case at a Kolkata law college, in which the accused were allegedly linked to the TMC’s student wing. Kalyan Banerjee made a controversial comment on the matter, saying, “What can be done if a friend rapes a friend?” The party officially condemned the remark as “insensitive,” and Moitra amplified that condemnation, criticizing what she termed the “misogyny” within Indian politics.
In retaliation, Banerjee launched a deeply personal attack: “She is saying I am anti-women. What is she? She has broken up a family of 40 years and married a 65-year-old guy. The women of the country will decide.”
Moitra hit back during the podcast, stating, “There are deeply misogynistic, sexually frustrated, depraved men in India, and they have their representation in Parliament across all parties.” She also called the silence of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee “unfortunate,” though she expressed hope that the leadership would act in time.
Their animosity predates the recent controversy. Earlier this year, the two clashed inside Parliament over what initially appeared to be a trivial issue, Banerjee’s dramatic endorsement of a Bengali sweet shop during a Lok Sabha session. Moitra objected, questioning whether parliamentary time should be used for such theatrics.
In April 2025, another confrontation occurred at the Election Commission's Delhi office during the submission of a TMC memorandum. Moitra reportedly objected to her name being omitted and confronted Banerjee, leading to a verbal altercation. Witnesses claim Moitra asked security to remove Banerjee for using offensive language.
That altercation had wider consequences. Banerjee lashed out at other party leaders, accusing MP Kirti Azad of leaking internal discussions to the BJP and labelling veteran MP Saugata Roy a “thief of Narada,” referencing the 2016 bribery sting operation.
Saugata Roy rebuked Banerjee’s remarks, saying, “He is in the habit of making deprecating statements, particularly against women,” and noted that several MPs wanted him removed as the party’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha.
Despite the controversies, Kalyan Banerjee, four-time MP and long-time legal advisor to Mamata Banerjee, continues to enjoy the protection of the top leadership. The party issued a showcause notice to MLA Madan Mitra over similar controversial remarks on the rape case but has not taken any public action against Banerjee.
Moitra, who commands national media attention and represents the party’s progressive face, has increasingly found herself at odds with the party’s old guard.
With West Bengal Assembly elections on the horizon in 2026, the TMC leadership now faces mounting pressure to intervene decisively.
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Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
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The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
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"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
