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Tag: Trinamool

  • Nusrat Jahan video: Trinamool candidate claims actor-politician was injured in accident; Opposition cries foul

    By ANI
    NORTH 24 PARGANAS: After a video went viral claiming to feature Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Nusrat Jahan losing her temper at a rally, TMC candidate Narayan Goswami on Monday claimed that she was injured after an ‘accident’ during the campaign rallies.

    The video shows the TMC MP was agitated during a campaign. In the video shared through West Bengal BJP Twitter handle a woman can be heard saying: “I have been at the rally for over an hour. I don’t do this even for the Chief Minister. Are you kidding?”

    Speaking to ANI, Goswami said: “Our rally took place at 4 pm. Thousands of people had arrived. The rally went on for 1.5 hours, during which Nusrat spent time with me, interacted with people and waved hands.”

    “At almost 6 pm, we had reached our final point. There was a bumper on the road. The driver was not accustomed to drive on those roads. He had pulled the brake suddenly. Nusrat and I were injured, but due to my bulky physique, I was not hurt much. However, since she had a thin physique, she was hurt. She sat down and tears came out of her eyes. Seeing her pain, I thought she had to be taken to a hospital or nursing home for treatment,” he added.

    Goswami further said he had doubts about the video, highlighting that technology could be a major cause for concern. Dismissing it as a possible conspiracy, he said all angles can be ascertained after Nusrat herself reacts on the matter.

    Meanwhile, the opposition parties have slammed Nursat’s alleged misdemeanour.

    “It is good that actresses enter in a field to serve people, but they also tend to bring the acting with them, which was displayed. We have never seen Nusrat at the side of the people during COVID-19 or the cyclone Amphan. This incident means that her internal mindset has been exposed,” said Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tanuja Chakraborty.

    Replying to a query on whether technology was involved in making the video, the BJP member said the TMC had nothing to say after being exposed, so they are trying to cover up their mistakes.

    Tapas Chakraborty from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), slammed Nusrat, saying she has insulted the Chief Minister and the parliamentary culture.

    “Firstly, if she is an MP under the Chief Minister, she has insulted the CM and the parliamentary culture. It proves that TMC buys celebrities with money, her money has dried up, that is why this happened,” he told media.

    He also accused Goswami of ‘speaking lies’.

    Nusrat’s video went viral as an intense triangular fight for power has begun in West Bengal Assembly polls, gripping the state in election fever.

    The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded with an estimated 79.79 per cent voter turnout on Saturday, including 30 seats covering all constituencies from Purulia and Jhargram and segments from Bankura, Purba and Paschim Medinipur.

  • Mamata Vs Suvendu: Ahead of high-stake Nandigram battle, Bengal CM holds roadshow

    By ANI
    NANDIGRAM: Ahead of the second phase of West Bengal assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a ‘padayatra’ (roadshow) in Nandigram on a wheelchair, marking the first roadshow here after she was injured in an alleged attack earlier this month.

    Nandigram will witness the most high-profile contest in the second phase of the state assembly elections to be held on April 1 with the Chief Minister taking on her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December last year.

    Thousands of people gathered around the Chief Minister waving party flags as Mamata held the rally from Khudiram Mod to Thakur Chowk in Nandigram Block-2, which would be followed by a public meeting in Jansabha Boyal II.

    Another public meeting will take place at 2 pm then at 3:30 pm in the Amdabad High School Ground.

    Suvendu Adhikari had earlier said that BJP will defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes from Nandigram.

    Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take on Mamata in a massive roadshow in Nandigram on Tuesday to bat for Adhikari. Bollywood star Mithun Chakraborty is also expected to conduct a roadshow for the BJP in Nandigram ahead of polling.

    Earlier this month, during a two-day visit in Nandigram, Mamata alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaign.

    Banerjee sustained “severe bony injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination.

    The Election Commission later said that the injury caused to the CM in Nandigram was not a result of an “attack” and suspended IPS officer Vivek Sahay, acting director of security for the West Bengal Chief Minister, with immediate effect.

    Meanwhile, the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded with an estimated 79.79 per cent voter turnout on Saturday.

    In the first phase, 30 seats covering all assembly constituencies from the districts of Purulia and Jhargram and a segment of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur went to the polls to decide on the electoral fate of 191 candidates, including 21 women.

  • Bengal polls: Mamata intensifies efforts to win over Nandigram voters before campaigning ends

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intensified efforts to woo voters before campaigning for the second phase of the assembly poll ends in Nandigram on Tuesday evening.

    Her campaign in the high-stakes constituency will begin at 11 am on Monday with an 8-kilometre roadshow from Khudiram More to Thakurchowk in Nandigram Block 2, followed by a public meeting in Jansabha Boyal II. Another one will take at 2 pm then at 3:30 pm in the Amdabad High School Ground.

    Nandigram will witness the most high-profile contest of the state assembly elections with the Chief Minister taking on her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December last year.

    Adhikari had earlier said that BJP will defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes from Nandigram.

    The BJP will also be bringing in big names to counter the TMC’s top leader. Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take on Mamata in a massive roadshow in Nandigram on Tuesday to bat for Adhikari.

    Bollywood star Mithun Chakraborty is also expected to conduct a roadshow in Nandigram ahead of polling.

    PM Narendra Modi had addressed a public rally for Suvendu Adhikari earlier. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too had come to campaign in the constituency.

    With rallies of Mamata planned for each day till the campaign ends, the Adhikari clan too has focussed its energy on ensuring that polling agents remain alert and that panna pramukhs bring out the voters on April 1.

    The Adhikaris have been working on a strategy to not let the last leg of campaigning sway the voters towards her.

    Sources in the BJP stated that the focus would remain on bringing voters to the polling stations while the candidates would be intensifying campaigning.

    “It’s all about that one day when polling happens. It is all that matters. So, if the Chief Minister campaigns and we do too, voters have largely made up their minds,” said a senior BJP leader.

    Adhikari, a former TMC leader, joined the BJP ahead of Assembly polls. Adhikari is a sitting MLA from Nandigram, a seat where Mamata Banerjee has decided to contest this time instead of Bhawanipur.

    Meanwhile, the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded with an estimated 79.79 per cent voter turnout on Saturday.

    In the first phase, 30 seats covering all assembly constituencies from the districts of Purulia and Jhargram and a segment of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur went to polls to decide on the electoral fate of 191 candidates, including 21 women.

    Now the remaining seven phases for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly polls will be held on different dates with the final round of voting scheduled on April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 2.

  • 2021 Assembly polls Phase-I: Stray incidents of violence reported in West Bengal

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA/GUWAHATI: Amid stray incidents of violence and trading of barbs over electoral malpractices, nearly 80 per cent polling was reported in the 30 constituencies of West Bengal that voted in the first phase of the eight-phase assembly election on Saturday.

    In Assam 72.14 per cent turnout was recorded for 47 of the total 126 seats that went to polls.

    The voting percentage in Bengal is around 3 per cent less than the previous assembly elections. The 30 constituencies that went to polls on Saturday included all the 18 constituencies that had voted in the first phase in 2016, too.

    The rising cases of COVID-19 and absence of a large number of migrant workers, who had left the state following the lockdown, are believed to be the reason behind the slight drop in turnout.

    Polling was held under tight security blanket with 730 companies of central forces guarding 10,288 polling booths in Junglemahal’s Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore and Bankura districts. However, violence was reported from pockets in Midnapore.

    Two police officers were injured in Bhagawanpur in East Midnapore when goons hurled crude bombs. Attack on political rivals also took place in West and East Midnapore districts. CPM candidate in Junglemahal’s Shalboni, Sushanta Ghosh, was manhandled when he was visiting a polling booth.

    He was pushed, allegedly by the Trinamool Congress supporters and his vehicle was vandalised. Soumendu Adhikari, brother of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s challenger in Nandigram constituency Suvendu Adhikari, was attacked, booth allegedly by TMC supporters, when he was on his way to a polling in Contai South constituency.

    Windshields of his vehicle were smashed. Three persons were arrested in connection with the attack. “I came to know the TMC supporters were casting bogus votes at a booth and was heading there. A group of TMC men waylaid me and attacked my car,” alleged Soumendu, who joined the BJP recently.

    The TMC, however, denied the allegation and said the incident was a fall out of common people’s anger as Soumendu was roaming with outsiders. In Assam, the polling was largely peaceful.

    Unlike the three-phase elections this time, the 2016 polls were held in two phases with 65 constituencies voting in the first phase, which had recorded 82.41 per cent turnout. An election official died as his health deteriorated at a polling station in Sonari.

  • Mamata accuses Modi of speaking at Matua temple with an eye on Bengal polls

    By Express News Service
    KHARAGPUR:  West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged PM Narendra Modi’s speech at the Matua temple at Orakandi in Bangladesh was with an eye on Bengal polls.

    The TMC supremo also alleged that Modi violated the model code of conduct through his speech at the temple, holy to the Matua community spread over India and Bangladesh. However, Modi in his speech at the temple had not made any election promises.

    Addressing a public meeting in Kharagpur, Banerjee recalled the scrapping Bangladeshi actor Firdaus’s visa during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections “as he took part in a rally here” and wondered why Modi’s visa should not be dealt with similarly.

    “Modi is delivering a speech at a temple in Bangladesh with an eye on elections in West Bengal. This is a total violation of the election code of conduct, we are taking up the issue with Election Commission,” she said.

    The Matua community in West Bengal is estimated to be 30 million strong. Pointing out that the BJP often accused her of bringing in Bangladeshi “infiltrators”, she wondered why Modi “now goes to Bangladesh to do marketing (sic)” for votes.

  • BJP claims Mamata sought help of party leader to win in Nandigram, Trinamool hits back with Mukul Roy’s ‘leaked’ audio

    By PTI
    NANDIGRAM: A huge controversy erupted on Saturday amid the polling for 30 assembly seats in West Bengal, with the BJP releasing an audio clip where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is purportedly heard cajoling a saffron party leader from Nandigram to rejoin the TMC and help her win the seat.

    The state’s ruling TMC reacted sharp and quick, releasing another audio tape where BJP national vice president Mukul Roy is heard telling industrialist and party leader Shishir Bajoria about how to influence the poll panel.

    Banerjee is pitted against her former protege and now the BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, the spring board that propelled her to power in 2011, dislodging the Left Front government after a 34-year unbroken rule.

    A BJP delegation, led by party general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, met the state’s chief electoral officer and handed over the tape, claiming Banerjee was misusing her official position to influence the outcome of the bitterly contested assembly poll.

    The ruling TMC questioned the genuineness of the audio tape, but asserted that since Pralay Pal was a former TMC leader who switched over to the BJP, there was nothing wrong with Banerjee trying to woo him back.

    ALSO READ | ‘Under pressure by party’ not to contest, Bengal BJP nominee threatens to immolate self

    Hours later, the TMC released to media an audio clip of the purported conversation between Roy and Bajoria.

    Roy is heard telling Bajoria to convince the Election Commission to allow polling agents, even from outside a given constituency, to be function at all polling stations.

    Polling agents of parties, under the existent rules, are allowed only at booths in localities where they normally reside.

    “See, we have to include this point while meeting the EC. We have to say that this rule that polling agents can only be deputed in their localities should be changed. The only criteria should be that the person is a citizen of the state. The BJP won’t be able to have its agents in a large number of booths otherwise,” Roy purportedly told Bajoria.

    The TMC reacted angrily, with its spokesperson Kunal Ghosh insisting the audio clip had “blown the lid off” the nexus between the BJP and the Election Commission.

    Earlier in the day, Praloy Pal, who pledged his allegiance to the Adhikari family, whose two members are still TMC Lok Sabha MPs, claimed Banerjee personally called him up and asked for help to win the Nandigram seat.

    “You should help us win Nandigram. Look, I know you have some grievances, but that’s due mostly to the Adhikaris who never allowed me to get into Nandigram or East Midnapore. I will take care of everything henceforth,” Banerjee purportedly told Pal, a BJP official in East Midnapore, the district where the Adhikari family holds sway.

    Pal, however, was not game.

    “Didi, you called me and I am honoured. But I can’t betray the Adhikaris as they have stood by me through thick and thin,” he was heard saying in the audio clip.

    ALSO READ | Nearly 80 per cent voter turnout in first phase of Bengal polls, 10 arrested for violence

    He later told TV news channels that Banerjee called him up and requested him to return to the TMC, a proposal he declined.

    “I am now working for the BJP and can’t betray them,” said Pal.

    PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio tape.

    Sharing the clip of the purported conversation, BJP’s social media head Amit Malviya tweeted, “Massive! Mamata Banerjee calls Proloy Pal, BJP’s district Vice President in Nandigram and pleads for help! Proloy tells her that he was humiliated in TMC, and he, along with this family, cannot betray the BJP. Pishi is definitely losing Nandigram and TMC Bengal.”

    “Only a candidate who has accepted defeat can speak the way Mamata Banerjee has spoken,” Vijayvargiya told journalists.

    When asked about whether the tape was authentic, the BJP leader retorted: “I as saying what I am saying with full responsibility (jawabdari).”

    “She’s imploring (yachna) for help. It shows she has accepted defeat,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Bengal elections: Congress-Left-ISF alliance fighting for political relevance, hopes to be kingmaker

    The TMC said the tape was not verified but found nothing wrong in Banerjee approaching a former partyman.

    “First of all, the clip is not verified. We don’t know whether it is true or false. But we don’t see anything wrong in a politician calling her former leaders or aides. This is quite natural in politics,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

    The high-profile Nandigram seat will go to poll on April 1 in the second phase.

  • BJP complains to EC over Trinamool candidate ‘distributing cash’ among voters

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The BJP on Friday drew the attention of the Election Commission to a video in which a Trinamool Congress candidate is seen allegedly distributing cash among the electorate.

    The BJP also made complaints about TMC workers “unleashing terror” in poll-bound districts in collusion with a section of the state police.

    In a letter to the poll panel, the saffron party attached links of the video, released on Friday, which showed an ex-minister and a TMC candidate from Purulia purportedly distributing cash among the voters.

    “It is a blatant violation of the model code of conduct that says all parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under the election law,” the letter signed by senior state BJP leaders said.

    The TMC denied the charge, alleging that the video was doctored and said it was the saffron party leaders “bringing in outsiders with bagfuls of cash to bribe the electorate”.

    The BJP also urged the EC to suspend four police officers.

    “They should be suspended forthwith for not executing their official work with due diligence, and helping the Trinamool Congress and its members in carrying out malpractice, irregularities,” it said.

    In another complaint to the EC, the BJP demanded immediate and necessary action against the “continuous targeted political killings of its workers to create fear psychosis and get electoral gains”.

  • Reject outsiders making daily trips to Bengal from Delhi to seek votes: Abhishek Banerjee

    By PTI
    TALDANGRA: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Friday said that the upcoming assembly polls is about rejecting “outsiders” who are travelling to West Bengal from Delhi like daily passengers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The TMC, which has made ‘Bengali pride’ its core poll plank, has tagged the saffron party as a “party of outsiders” as its top leaders hail from outside the state.

    “The daily passengers are claiming that they will make ‘Sonar Bangla’, but why could they not make golden Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh?,” Banerjee asked.

    Abhishek, the nephew of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, said at an election rally here in Bankura district that the PM along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states have been embarking on daily visits to the state from the national capital to campaign for the BJP.

    Highlighting that Mamata Banerjee has already turned the state into ‘Sonar Bangla’ by providing free education, health and ration to the people, the Diamond Harbour MP asked the voters to show gratitude by casting their votes in favour of TMC candidates.

    Alleging that Modi did not keep his assurances like providing jobs and Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of people, the TMC leader said that the chief minister, however, has fulfilled all her promises.

    He said, “the BJP does not have candidates of its own and waits for those thrown out by the TMC for nominating them”.

    Accusing the BJP of copying the TMC’s manifesto, Banerjee said “They are stealing our leaders, manifesto and even songs.”

    The TMC leader claimed that the BJP has promised ‘Annapurna Canteen’ for people by copying the concept TMC’s ‘Maa Canteen’ providing food at Rs 5 per plate, which has already been operationalised.

    The BJP in its election manifesto gave an assurance that ‘Annapurna Canteens’ will be set up in the state to provide cooked food three times a day at Rs 5 per meal.

    Claiming that the central government is selling off enterprises like Air India, Railways and BSNL, he said that “the BJP will sell off the assets of the state if it comes to power in Bengal.”

  • BJP providing shelter to criminals in Purba Medinipur, Trinamool tells EC

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission accusing the BJP of providing shelter to miscreants in parts of West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district to create violence on polling days.

    TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien and Lok Sabha MP Kakali Ghosh Dastidar told reporters they have several reports about “miscreants being brought to Purba Medinipur from neighbouring districts and Kolkata ahead of the polls”.

    “We have information that criminals are being brought to Patashpur, Egra, Bhagabanpur, Khejuri to foment disturbances. Many outsiders are staying at local houses. This is a violation of the poll guidelines,” Ghosh Dastidar said after meeting the EC officials.

    They sought deployment of additional central forces in constituencies of the district where assembly elections will be held on Saturday.

    “We have received inputs that at Kanthi (Uttar and Dakshin), Bhagabanpur, Khejuri, Egra, Ramnagar and Patashpur, there is going to be considerable violence planned by the BJP on the day preceding the poll as well as the polling days,” the ruling party in West Bengal said in a letter to the EC.

    The party also alleged that deployment of central armed forces is “significantly less” in these areas, which it suspects is “out of the failure of local intelligence collection, or ignoring the inputs or deliberate avoidance to blatantly favour the BJP”.

    Ghosh Dastidar also said TMC candidate from Khejuri was attacked by his political rivals on Thursday.

    “We have also information that miscreants are being brought to Nandigram to create disturbances in the constituency on April 1, the day of polling, and before that. We urge the EC to ensure free and fair elections,” she said.

    The Trinamool Congress has accused BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari of “harbouring armed criminals” in Nandigram.

    Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is pitted against Adhikari, her former confidante who joined the BJP some time ago, in the high-profile Nandigram seat.

    The TMC also alleged that outsiders of the constituency have been staying at nine locations there.

    The party accused the local police of not taking any action against the BJP and sought the Election Commission’s intervention into the matter.

    “We call upon you to immediately intervene and direct necessary steps to be taken by the police under your supervision to forthwith apprehend all such armed criminals hired and harboured by Suvendu Adhikari,” the letter said.

  • SC stays HC order reviving criminal cases against Mamata’s election agent

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday stayed the operation of a Calcutta High Court order which resulted in the reinstitution of several criminal cases against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s election agent in connection with the Nandigram protests against land acquisition by the state government from 2007-09.

    A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Krishna Murari said, “Since the order which affects the petitioner (election agent) herein was passed without hearing him, we deem it appropriate to pass an interim order staying the operation of the order dated March 5, 2021”.

    The petitioner, S K Supian, has challenged the order passed by the Calcutta High Court on two PILs against the withdrawal of prosecution in various criminal cases connected with the protests over the alleged improper acquisition of land by the state to create a special economic zone (SEZ) in Nandigram.

    Supian, represented by senior advocate Vikas Singh, has contended he was not made a party in the PILs and the reinstitution of the criminal cases has impaired his ability to discharge his functions as an election agent under the Representation of People Act 1951.

    Singh alleged that a PIL was “filed by a BJP person” in the high court which passed the interim order.

    “By an interim order, the case was revived,” he said, adding, “I (petitioner) am the election agent of the Chief Minister and because of this order, I am virtually disabled”.

    “It is unheard of. There is no question of revival of case,” Singh said, adding that his client was impleaded as a party in the matter before the high court, but after passing an interim order without hearing him.

    He said the cases relate to protests at Nandigram and later, the state government decided to withdraw these matters.

    “This high court order has to be stayed. Now, I (petitioner) have been impleaded as a party in the high court, I will go there and argue my case,” Singh said, adding the plea filed in the high court is “politically motivated”.

    Senior advocates A M Singhvi and Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the state, also opposed the high court’s interim order.

    Singhvi sought stay of the high court interim order and said it was passed on a PIL and that too, without hearing the person.

    “You must stay the order (of high court) completely,” Singhvi said.

    Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for a caveator, said both the petitions — one filed by the state and the other by Supian — should be dismissed with exemplary cost as they have “lied to this court”.

    The caveator before the apex court is one of the persons who filed the PIL in the high court.

    Rohatgi, during the hearing, claimed that both the state and Supian have argued that only agitation cases were withdrawn but there were some cases, including those under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code also.

    However, the bench said that the plea filed by the state is not before it.

    Singh said in Nandigram protest, there were allegations that some people had died in police firing and in some cases, allegation of murder was there.

    Rohatgi alleged that there are six cases against Supian and he was absconding for 13 years.

    “This is a shocking case where cases are withdrawn in stereotype fashion,” Rohatgi said, adding the petitioners before the high court are practicing lawyers.

    Rohatgi said the apex court can ask the division bench of the high court to hear the matter on Tuesday.

    Supian, in his plea, has claimed that he was discharged or acquitted in various cases, in relation to the protests against the land acquisition, in February and June last year.

    The criminal cases had alleged that he had engaged in unlawful assembly and had participated in the violence in connection with the protests, his petition has said.

    He has claimed that he came to know the cases were reinstituted when the process to issue arrest warrants was initiated by the magisterial court on March 15.

    The magisterial court by its order of March 15 had also stayed its order of last year permitting withdrawal of the prosecution and reinstated the criminal cases.

    The matter was mentioned in the first half of the day before a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde by senior advocate Vikas Singh.

    The apex court, during the mentioning, said that “anything can happen in a political rivalry” and that it will see whether a special bench can be constituted depending on availability.

    Later, the matter was listed for hearing in the post-lunch session.