The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing internal turmoil as a dispute between MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra has escalated following a recent gang rape case in Kolkata. The rift widened after Banerjee made comments that were perceived as victim-blaming in the wake of the rape, drawing criticism from Moitra. Instead of addressing the criticism, Banerjee launched a personal attack on Moitra, taking aim at her recent marriage to former BJD MP Pinaki Misra.
Banerjee's controversial remarks on the Kolkata law college gang rape case sparked the initial conflict. He stated that "Those who are roaming around with such people should understand whom they are accompanying," which was widely condemned as survivor-shaming. Moitra responded by criticizing her own party's silence, stating, "Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them".
Instead of addressing the criticism regarding his comments on the rape survivor, Banerjee chose to target Moitra's personal life. Referring to her marriage with Pinaki Misra, he alleged that Moitra had disrupted a long-standing family. "Mahua has come back to India after her honeymoon and started fighting with me! She accuses me of being anti-woman, what is she? She has broken up a 40-year marriage and married a guy who is 65 years old. Did she not hurt the lady?" Banerjee said. He further added, "An MP who was expelled from parliament for breach of ethics is preaching me! She is the most anti-woman. She only knows how to secure her future and how to make money".
This isn't the first time the two MPs have publicly clashed. In April 2025, a heated argument occurred at the Election Commission office in Delhi, where Moitra allegedly asked security officials to “arrest” Banerjee after a dispute over her name being removed from a party memorandum. A leaked WhatsApp chat between Banerjee and fellow MP Kirti Azad surfaced later, in which Banerjee allegedly referred to Moitra as a “versatile international lady”.
The TMC has attempted to control the damage by distancing itself from Banerjee's comments, clarifying that they were made in a personal capacity. The party reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on crimes against women and demanded strict punishment for those involved in the Kolkata gang rape.
The Kolkata rape case involves the rape of a law student at a Kolkata college. The main accused, Manojit Mishra, and two others have been arrested. Mishra is reportedly part of the Trinamool youth wing, but the party has insisted that this connection will not shield him from punishment.
