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Journalism of Courage
EC is functioning on BJP’s behalf: TMC leaders question CEO’s neutrality
Party leaders raise concerns over CEO Agarwal’s recent Nandigram visit alleging a local BJP leader was accompanying him
“We have registered many of our complaints with the EC but to no avail,” he said further while quoting an incident in Panihati where a sector officer was reportedly seen putting up BJP flags.
Also by Avantika Basu
Questioning the “integrity” of the election process, the TMC accused the Election Commission of “functioning on the behalf of the BJP”.
Senior TMC leaders, including state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya — also the party candidate from Dumdum Uttar seat — and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, who is running from Beleghata, made these remarks while addressing a press conference on Monday.
“Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal recently visited Nandigram and a local BJP leader and party convenor of Kalichaanpur, Tapan Kumar Mahapatra, was seen accompanying him,” said Bhattacharya.
“This is not about where an official can visit but who is seen alongside them. When electoral authorities are seen with political figures, it shakes public confidence,” Bhattacharya added while highlighting “the need to maintain neutrality during election procedures”.
“The EC is functioning on behalf of the BJP,” alleged Kunal Ghosh.
Raising concerns over voter deletions, Ghosh alleged: “Legitimate voters in the state are being removed while new names are being added from outside. These are not isolated incidents… there is a pattern that people are beginning to notice now.”
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Alleging “EC bias”, Ghosh shared the example of Surajit Roy, who was previously appointed as the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Nandigram-II Block. The TMC had earlier complained to EC against Roy’s appointment as the returning officer for Bhabanipur, arguing that “he is closely associated with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari”, the party candidate facing off with the chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the seat.
The party had claimed that there was photographic evidence that spoke of Roy’s close association with the Leader of the Opposition.
Meanwhile, the TMC leader accused EC of “fighting for BJP under a mask”. “This is a serious concern. It is necessary to bring to people’s notice prior to elections,” Ghosh added.
“We have registered many of our complaints with the EC but to no avail,” he said further while quoting an incident in Panihati where a sector officer was reportedly seen putting up BJP flags.
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During the press conference, the TMC also announced the formal induction of advocate Anirban Banerjee into the party fold. Asserting that CM Mamata Banerjee will be the clear winner in the upcoming elections, Ghosh said: “Jotoi koro hamla, abar jitbe Bangla” (no matter how much you attack, Bengal will win again). Till the filling of this report, there was no response from the EC or the BJP over the TMC allegations.
(Jigisha Seal & Avantika Basu are interns with The Indian Express, Kolkata)
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