In a recent twist, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused TMC MP Mahua Moitra of accepting a bribe from industrialist Darshan Hiranandani to raise questions about industrialist Gautam Adani’s businesses in the Lok Sabha.
As the parliamentary ethics committee convened on October 26 to hear statements from Delhi-based lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey regarding the probe into Moitra, the TMC leadership’s silence on the matter has put the party in a difficult position, especially amid their strategic moves against the Centre.
The allegation against Moitra emerged just as TMC’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, planned a second Delhi agitation led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, protesting the suspension of central funds for welfare schemes.
Despite the controversy, Moitra remains a prominent figure in the party, being part of the opposition’s INDIA coalition. The ethics committee’s investigation into one of TMC’s vocal MPs adds discomfort to the party’s preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, Moitra has filed a defamation suit against Dubey and Dehadrai, her former friend who claims to possess evidence supporting the allegation. The industrialist in question, Darshan Hiranandani, initially denied the charge but later stated in a signed affidavit that Moitra targeted Adani to “malign and embarrass” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has faced accusations from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of favoring the Adani Group.
TMC’s Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs assert that the party never dictated the issues and questions they raised in Parliament. However, an unwritten code existed, emphasizing that the raised issues must relate to problems faced by common people or the Centre’s policies, without targeting individuals unless they are politicians.
This controversy has prompted discussions within the party about potentially setting guidelines or monitoring MPs’ activities inside Parliament.
In this situation, Firhad Hakim, Bengal’s urban development minister and Kolkata mayor, is the sole TMC leader to publicly support Moitra. Despite previous incidents causing embarrassment for the party, such as Moitra’s comments on the media and religious beliefs, the current bribery allegations pose a significant challenge to TMC’s internal dynamics and public image.
The outcome of this controversy could have far-reaching consequences on the party’s future strategies and alliances.