ECI Censures BJP MP Dilip Ghosh and Congress Leader Supriya Srinate Over Derogatory Comments Passed Against Women

The Election Commission of India on Monday censured BJP MP Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Srinate for the derogatory comments they had passed against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP Candidate Kangana Ranaut, respectively. The ECI had labeled these remarks as “undignified and in bad taste” and issued show cause notices to both Ghosh and Srinate on March 27, seeking an explanation.

In its order, the poll body stated that it was convinced that Dilip Ghosh and Supriya Srinate made personal attacks and thus violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. The ECI warned them to practice caution while making public addresses during the period under the MCC and also added that their communications will be specially monitored by the poll body henceforth. A copy of the notices issued to Srinate and Ghosh has also been sent to their party leadership urging them to sensitize their functionaries.

A massive controversy irrupted after Dilip Ghosh, the incumbent BJP MP of Bengal’s Medinipur, who is contesting from the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, passed a derogatory comment against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, questioning her ancestry. "When Didi goes to Goa she becomes Goa's daughter, in Tripura she says I am Tripura's daughter, decide who is your father; this is not right,” said Ghosh. The Trinamool Congress was quick to lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission against Ghosh, urging the poll body to take action against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct. According to the TMC, Ghosh's comments not only lacked decorum but also displayed a blatant disregard for the dignity of a prominent political figure. BJP later demanded an explanation from Ghosh, who then expressed regret if his words were deemed inappropriate.

Supriya Srinate drew flak after a now-deleted post about Kangana Ranaut, the BJP candidate from the Mandi constituency was made from her Instagram profile. The Congress leader later explained that the post was not made by her and blamed a parody account for it. Despite her explanation, the National Commission for Women urged the Election Commission to take action against her.