'Won't tolerate that rude, uncivilized female MP': TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee amid chat leak row

The TMC MP also slammed senior Trinamool leader Saugata Roy after he said that it was a matter of "shame" to have WhatsApp chats from the party's MPs group leaked by the BJP.

Kalyan Banerjee countered the criticism by referring to the 2014 'Narada sting op', in which politicians, including Roy, were recorded allegedly taking bribes.

The current encounter follows a row last week between Banerjee and other Trinamool MPs, including ex-India cricketer Kirti Azad, over the presentation of a memorandum to the Election Commission.

According to Banerjee, he had been told 27 MPs (but not who) would sign and deliver the memorandum.

"Next morning, as I reached the EC office, a female MP questioned me because her name was not on the list. She shouted... that her name had been deliberately removed," he said.

"When she shouted, I responded... Then she ran to the BSF (Border Security Force) and asked them to arrest me! I have been in politics for 40 years... fought against CPM, Congress, and BJP."

"You know me... but this lady has no issue except with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi... she never challenges any other BJP leader, even from Bengal. How dare she ask for my arrest?"

"If didi (Banerjee) says I am wrong, I will quit politics forever. But I will not tolerate that rude female MP who pressures me to give her more time (to speak in Parliament). What is this? I can take pressure from anyone but I cannot take from that MP... for saying I have to allot her more minutes," he declared.

Adding fuel to the fire, the female MP has been backed by Kirti Azad, as per reports.

The latter end of that row was captured (secretly, it appears) on mobile phone footage and later shared online by the BJP's Amit Malviya.

In that video, a visibly angry Banerjee seems to say he does not owe his post either to a 'quota' or for joining the party from a rival outfit. The remark has been seen as referring to the woman MP and Azad, who joined the BJP in November 2023.

Along with the videos, Malviya has also posted private chats from a WhatsApp group of Trinamool MPs, in which Azad says Kalyan Banerjee has had too much drink and then rants about "the beautiful activities of versatile international lady".

Speaking on Sougata Roy, who said the BJP publishing confidential WhatsApp chats between party MPs is a matter of "shame", Banerjee lashed out: "Does Sougata Roy have a character? His nature is to disturb all... he has not liked me since 2001... (he) was caught taking cash!"