The BJP on Monday approached the Election Commission, accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of “intimidating” electors to dissuade them from voting for the saffron party in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Submitting a petition in this regard, a delegation that included Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal, along with Sukanta Majumdar and BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni, urged the EC to take necessary action to ensure that free and fair elections are conducted in the state.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Rijiju said that while Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in four states and one Union Territory, in West Bengal the Chief Minister has “wreaked havoc to deprive electors of their right to vote and hijack the election.”
He alleged that Banerjee, her ministers, and TMC workers are threatening and intimidating people to dissuade them from voting in favour of the BJP in the upcoming polls.
“The Chief Minister is herself threatening voters there. We had a detailed discussion in this regard with the Election Commission officials,” the minister said, adding that the EC gave a “positive response” to the delegation and asserted that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.