News Analysis India

Tag: Bengal elections

  • Bengal polls: BJP member found dead at Chakdah, saffron party alleges Trinamool hand

    By PTI
    CHAKDAH: The body of a BJP member was found at Chakdah in West Bengal’s Nadia district in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

    After the body of Dilip Kirtania (31) was found, BJP activists in the area started protest demonstrations staging roadblocks alleging that he was murdered by miscreants belonging to the rival TMC, the police said.

    Kirtania’s family members alleged that he had gone out in the night to attend to nature’s call, but did not return home, police said quoting the complaint lodged.

    “As he did not return home for a long time they started a search and found him lying injured a few metres away from his residence. Doctors declared him brought dead when he was rushed to Chakdah state General hospital. He had several injuries in his private parts,” a police officer added.

    BJP party activists started protests as the news of Kirtania’s death spread in the area.

    Demanding arrests of those behind the murder, the BJP activists also staged protests putting up a blockade on NH 34, police said.

    Polling for the Chakdah seat was held on Saturday during the fifth phase of the West Bengal Assembly election.

    Police had arrested one Independent candidate Koushik Bhowmick for carrying a country-made pistol outside a polling booth during Saturday’s polling.

  • Villagers’ claim of firing in Deganga polling booth baseless: Bengal Police

    The villagers had alleged that the CRPF personnel deployed at booth number 215 at Kurulgachcha in Deganga in North 24 Parganas during the fifth phase of polling had fired at a crowd outside.

  • Attack on BJP candidate’s convoy in Bengal: Party protests outside police station

    By ANI
    SAINTHIA: The convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Sainthia Priya Saha was allegedly attacked on Saturday by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.

    “TMC miscreants attacked my convoy, bombs were hurled at our workers,” Saha said.

    Saha, along with other party workers, protested outside a police station late on Saturday night.

    “If the police don’t take any action against the culprits, we’ll sit here in front of the police station 24 by 7,” Saha said.

    BJP leader and candidate from Nandigram Suvendu Adhikari also commented on the incident saying that resorting to violence is TMC’s habit.

    “It is their habit. There’s no one with the TMC, besides goons,” Adhikari told media.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22, where in 306 candidates will contest for 43 constituencies across four districts.

  • Mamata audiotape row: TMC moves EC, says BJP illegally tapped CM’s phone

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Saturday moved the Election Commission over the issue of the purported audiotape of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that the BJP released on Friday accusing her of doing politics over the bodies of Cooch Behar firing victims.

    BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya released the tape in a press conference on Friday in which Mamata is heard interacting with TMC’s Sitalkuchi candidate Partha Pratim Ray. The BJP alleged Mamata instructed Ray not to hand over the victims’ bodies to their families as she would organise a rally with it.

    The delegation of the party also requested the Commission to take necessary action to prosecute the persons in the BJP responsible.

    ALSO READ | WB elections: My phone is being tapped, will order CID probe, says Mamata Banerjee

    In the complaint letter, the TMC alleged that it is unprecedented that a Chief Minister’s phone was intercepted at BJP’s behest and one day before the polling.

    “In the said conference, it has been alleged that in the aftermath of the CISF firing incident at Sitalkuchi, Smt Mamata Banerjee has a conversation with Partha Pratim Ray. The BJP has not only illegally recorded and/or caused it to be recorded, but also played it at the press conference out of context. The entire exercise by the BJP is an illegal act and is a direct assault on legal rights, including the right to privacy of Smt Mamata Banerjee and Partha Pratim Ray,” the letter reads.

    The TMC alleged that the release of the audiotape containing Mamata’s conversation is a violation of the Constitution, Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, Information Technology Act, 2000, and Indian Penal Code, 1860.

  • Bengal polls: Didi indifferent to people’s health, skips Covid meetings, says Modi 

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is not concerned about people’s healthcare as she skipped the last two meetings convened in the wake of the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

    “I held two meetings with the chief ministers. But she did not attend. She is not concerned about people’s healthcare in Bengal in the wake of the Covid pandemic,” Modi said while addressing a poll rally in Asansol.

    Modi also attacked Mamata for politicising the Cooch Behar firing incident a day after the leak of her audiotape in which she is allegedly heard proposing a rally with the victims’ dead bodies.

    “An audio tape has come out which shows how Didi (Mamata) is doing politics over it. Didi is asking to take out a procession with dead bodies. She is doing politics over the bodies of the Cooch Behar victims,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Mamata put future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure nephew’s; playing politics of vengence: PM Modi

    In the audio clip, Mamata is purportedly heard instructing TMC candidate in Sitalkuchi Partha Pratim Ray not to release the bodies as she would organise a procession with it. She was also heard instructing Ray to engage professional lawyers before lodging an FIR.

    Modi also castigated Mamata citing her speech and alleging that the Bengal CM used such words while attacking him which doesn’t befit Bengal’s culture.

    “She made a comment on my growing beard and said something was wrong with my head. She labelled me as a superman and accused me of instigating communal discord. The language she used to attack a Prime Minister doesn’t befit to Bengal’s culture,” the PM said.     

    Modi, in his speech, reminded of the communal clash that took place in Asansol after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Hundreds of properties were destroyed in the incident. Who was in support of the people responsible for the riots in Asansol?” asked Modi without naming Mamata.

    Recalling the 2018 panchayat elections, the PM accused TMC of insulting India’s democracy by depriving people to contest and exercise their franchise. “The people of Bengal have not forgotten how candidates of opposition parties were not allowed to submit nominations in one-third seats in the rural polls. Even, the Supreme Court expressed displeasure over the TMC’s atrocities in the panchayat elections,” he added.

  • Audiotape of Mamata’s conversation result of BJP’s ‘dirty tricks department’: TMC’s Yashwant Sinha

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by leaders Yashwant Sinha, Derek O’Brien and Purnendu Basu met the Election Commission (EC) regarding the ‘illegal’ recording of a conversation between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party candidate Partha Pratim Ray.

    Speaking to the media, Sinha said: “We met the EC to register a complaint that a day before the elections, the BJP released a so-called tape of the West Bengal CM and it is clear that this is the result of BJP’s dirty tricks department. It is released just a day before voting to influence voters.”

    He further informed that the big question raised before the Commission was who was taping the conversations of the Chief Minister.

    “I have been a minister and I wanna say that there is a proscribed procedure even for recording the conversations of a criminal,” he said.

    ALSO READ | BJP urges EC to form SIT to probe CM Mamata Banerjee’s purported audiotape on Sitalkuchi firing

    Meanwhile, Basu told the media: “We have conveyed to the EC that is an act of wrongdoing. If this way the audiotape of a Chief Minister is released, this is a very bad thing. We have asked for an appropriate investigation in this matter, and adequate punishment should be given.”

    Prior to this, the delegation also wrote a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) accusing the BJP of illegally recording a conversation between Banerjee and Ray.

    “In the said conference, it has been alleged that in the aftermath of the CISF firing incident at Sitalkuchi, Mamata Banerjee had a conversation with Partha Pratim Ray. The BJP has not only illegally recorded and/or caused it to be recorded, but also played it at the press conference out of context. The entire exercise by the BJP is an illegal act and is a direct assault on legal rights, including the Right to Privacy of Mamata Banerjee and Partha Pratim Ray,” the TMC delegation said.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22. 

  • Mamata put future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure nephew’s; playing politics of vengence: PM Modi

    By ANI
    DAKSHIN DINAJPUR: Attacking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said she has put the future of millions of youth at stake to secure the future of her ‘Bhaipo’ (nephew).

    Addressing a public meeting at Gangarampur, Prime Minister said, “In the last 10 years, Didi’s government has made old industries shut and forced youths to migrate. Where there is appeasement, there is poverty, there is discrimination and suppression of hope and aspiration. Didi put the future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure the future of Bhaipo (nephew).”

    “Didi o Didi… Such days would not have to be seen if you had twisted the ears of the tolabaazs (extortionists) who looted the poor people of Bengal and made your favourite bhaipo to do sit-ups,” he said.

    Prime Minister accused Mamata Banerjee of practising appeasement politics.

    ALSO READ | Mahakumbh 2021: After PM Modi’s appeal to keep Kumbh ‘Symbolic’, seers come out in support

    “Appeasement does not lead to better roads, schools-colleges, industry, employment and more. The dilapidated roads in this region, the lack of hospitals and the lack of irrigational facilities is proof enough,” he said.

    He further said, “Mamata Didi hates the names of Maa Ganga and Lord Shri Ram. Her hatred has increased so much that she changed the name ‘Ramdhenu’ to ‘Rongdhenu’. Didi abuses Indians who live on the banks of the Ganges. She insults their faith, food, language and attire.”

    Prime Minister greeted the people of West Bengal for good voter turnouts in the last four phases of the state Assembly elections.

    CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIVE ELECTION UPDATES

    “The way the people of Bengal have voted at all stages, I greet the citizens of Bengal by bowing my head. After many decades, they have got the opportunity to vote fearlessly, otherwise, every vote was held amidst hooliganism,” he said.

    ‘Her politics has crossed a dangerous limit of vengeance’

    In a separate rally in Asansol, PM Modi also slammed the Chief Minister after an FIR was registered against Banerjee for allegedly provoking an attack on central forces during the fourth phase of polling, which led to the deaths of four people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed her for crossing the limit of vengeance.

    He said, “Her politics isn’t limited to just protests, but it has crossed a dangerous limit of vengeance.”

    The complainant, named Siddik Ali Miah, said Banerjee makes various provocational statements through media for the “purpose of breaking peace and tranquility in West Bengal”.

    READ MORE | BJP urges EC to form SIT to probe CM Mamata Banerjee’s purported audiotape on Sitalkuchi firing

    “She hatched up a criminal conspiracy and delivered her speech for provoking the general public, especially the women to launch an attack on the paramilitary forces armed with hand made various weapons and in the consequence of such conspiracy the villagers, especially the Muslim community including women in large numbers launched an attack on the paramilitary forces with hand made various weapons on 10.04.2021at 11 pm at Booth No. 5/126,” he stated in his complaint to inspector in-charge, Mathabhanga police station.

    He further stated that the last four phases of voting have left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in shatters.

    PM Modi said, “Four rounds of voting, TMC is split into pieces. The remaining four rounds of polling, didi-bhaipo will be eliminated. In the fifth phase of voting, polling is underway where the button with the lotus symbol will be pressed in large numbers to form the BJP government.”

    Voting for the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22.

  • Sporadic violence, alleged booth captures mark fifth phase of Bengal polls

    By PTI
    SALT LAKE/BURDWAN/SILIGURI: Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from some areas where polling was underway in the fifth phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal on Saturday, officials said.

    Polling was being held in 45 seats in North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman and Nadia in south Bengal, and Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the north.

    The security personnel are maintaining a tight vigil and they have addressed a few incidents that were reported, an official at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said.

    In the Shantinagar area of Bidhanagar, a clash broke out between TMC and BJP supporters with both sides accusing each other of stopping the voters from going to the polling booths.

    Bricks and stones were hurled, injuring eight people, officials said.

    A huge contingent of the central force was rushed to the spot to control the situation, they said.

    TMC MLA Sujit Bose and BJP candidate Sabyasachi Dutta visited the spot to take stock of the situation.

    In Siliguri, a scuffle broke out between TMC and CPI (M) supporters outside a polling booth.

    In Santipur in the Nadia district, the TMC alleged that personnel of the central forces were asking voters to go back, a charge rubbished by the authorities.

    Further, the TMC alleged that a polling booth in the Bardhaman Uttar constituency was captured by the BJP.

    The allegation was denied by the opposition party, while poll officials said that no such incident has happened.

    In Bijpur in North 24 Parganas, TMC and BJP supporters clashed after the opposition party alleged that voters were being prevented from going to the booths.

    The BJP also alleged that some of its booth agents in the Minakha constituency of the same district were “kidnapped” by the TMC.

    The TMC said that the BJP does not have enough strength to depute agents in all the booths and that is why it was levelling such “baseless” allegation.

    A total of 1,13,47,344 people are eligible to vote.

    Of them, 57,35,766 are men, 56,11,354 are women and 224 are third gender.

    Barring these few incidents, the overall situation was peaceful, a poll panel official said.

    At many places, voters were seen without masks amid the resurgent coronavirus, raising concerns.

    The security forces ensured social distancing at the booths, while election officials provided masks, hand sanitisers and polythene gloves to the voters.

    The polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6.30 pm in 15,789 stations across the six districts.

    Till 11 am, 36.02 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

    The Election Commission has deployed 853 companies of central forces in this phase.

  • Bengal polls: What did BJP do for Gorkha community? asks Bimal Gurung

    By ANI
    DARJEELING: As polling got underway in North Bengal on Saturday, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung asked the BJP what has the party done for the Gorkha community.

    Speaking to ANI, Gurung said, “They (BJP) do not have people’s support in Bengal. They do not have much influence on ground zero. How can they form the government? Politics is not possible through violence, vandalism and shooting. Politics should be simple.”

    “I supported BJP for 15 years but what did it do for my community? Modi had assured us and made a commitment, it has been six-seven years now but it is yet to be completed,” he added.

    Voting for the fifth phase of West Bengal assembly polls began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

    Out of the 45 constituencies, where polling is being held in the fifth phase, 13 constituencies are from North Bengal including five in Darjeeling, one in Kalimpong, and seven in Jalpaiguri.

    The most dynamic political development in North Bengal during this election is the switching of camp by GJM leader Bimal Gurung from BJP to TMC. Gurung, the man who has been spearheading the Gorkha movement, helped the BJP to get a foothold in this region is now with the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    North Bengal has witnessed a lot of socio-political turbulence like the Gorkhaland movement. A separate state of ‘Gorkhaland’ has been a long-standing demand of Nepali-speaking Gorkhas since 1907 on the grounds that they are culturally and ethnically different from West Bengal.

    In the current scenario, GTA is the local autonomous body in the Darjeeling hills, which is headed by the Binoy Tamang-led faction of the GJM that supports the TMC.

    Apart from the political disturbance, the adversities of tea garden workers and lack of employment opportunities are the key issues in the region.

    The BJP has promised a political solution to the Gorkha issue. It has also promised an increase in daily wages for tea workers to Rs 350.

    Caste card is also in the fray as BJP is trying to woo the ethnic and tribal population of the region with the promise of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

    On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is counting upon the development and welfare works of her government.

    The most talked-about contests are in three seats — Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. Here the two factions of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) one led by Bimal Gurung and the other by his former deputy Binay Tamang are in a direct contest.

    In the Darjeeling constituency, Pemba Tshering is the candidate for GJM (Gurung) and Keshav Raj Sharma for GJM (Tamang). BJP has fielded Neeraj Zimba Tamang from the seat. Gautam Raj Rai is the CPI(M) candidate from Darjeeling.

    In these three constituencies, TMC has not fielded its candidate as GJM is backing the TMC. The GJM had won these seats in the last two Assembly elections.

  • Bengal polls phase five: BJP booth worker dies in Kamarhati, EC seeks report

    By ANI
    NORTH 24 PARGANAS: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) polling agent died inside a booth in Kamarhati while voting was underway for the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on Saturday.

    “His name is Abhijeet Samanta. Nobody helped him, there is no facility for treatment here,” the brother of the deceased BJP polling agent told ANI.

    Another BJP worker said, “We do not know what exactly happened as we are not allowed in a radius of 200 metres. I went with water after seeing him lying on the ground.”

    Meanwhile, the Election Commission has sought a report over the sudden death of the BJP polling agent at booth number 107 in Kamarhati on Saturday.

    Voting for the fifth phase of West Bengal assembly polls began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22.