News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal Polls 2021

  • West Bengal elections 2021: BJP axes turncoats in fresh candidate list

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Taking a lesson from the unexpected intra-party rebellion over triggered by the candidature of scores of Trinamool Congress (TMC) turncoats, the BJP high-command, in its latest list of 157 candidates, decided not to include the ruling party’s faces in the fray.

    When the previous lists included more than 70 TMC turncoats, the Thursday’s list included only three ruling party’s defectors other than 10 MLAs.

    “The large-scale demonstrations in front of the party’s election headquarters at Hastings in Kolkata and other parts of South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts were triggered by the party’s decision to field the TMC turncoats who joined our party very recently. This party high-command was not happy with the intra-party rebellion and decided to give the party’s old workers priority,” said a senior BJP leader in Kolkata.

    Irked by the party’ internal feud that surfaced publicly, Union Home minister Amit Shah, who was visiting Bengal and Assam on Monday and scheduled to fly to Delhi on the same day, landed in Kolkata and held an unscheduled overnight meeting with the Bengal functionaries and national leaders, who were camping in the state. The meeting continued till dawn on Tuesday. Before leaving for Delhi, Shah asked Bengal functionaries with the list of candidates for next phases to attend an emergency meeting in the national capital.    

    Though the Thursday’s candidate list axed many TMC turncoats, incidents of ransacking and protests took place at least three places in the state shortly after the announcement. Roadblocks were put up at Jagaddal in protest of turncoat TMC MLA from Nadia’s Shantipur Arindam Bhattacharya’s candidature from the North 24 Parganas district constituency.

    Similarly, agitation was staged in Durgapur after the BJP announced TMC MLA Jitendra Tiwari’s candidature in Pandeveshwar constituency. Senior BJP functionaries, including Union minister Babul Supriyo, had opposed Tiwari’s inclusion in the BJP.

    In Jalpaiguri, angry BJP supporters ransacked the district party office as they were not happy with the candidates announced on Thursday.  “It was a rift between the party’s old workers. There many aspirants who wanted to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections but denied ticket,” said a BJP leader.

  • Dharmendra Pradhan slams Mamata over violence at rally, says democracy being murdered in Bengal

    By ANI
    NANDIGRAM: Minutes after an alleged clash between Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress workers, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday lashed out against the Mamata Banerjee government and stated that democracy is being murdered from where the Chief Minister is herself contesting.

    “If she wants to contest why not with democratic ways. Since morning, when Suvendu Adhikari started his padayatra, due to fear of losing to him and his popularity they are attacking us. On Sonachura Chowk, our young worker was attacked,” Pradhan said soon after a clash broke out allegedly between BJP and TMC workers during Suvendu Adhikar’s rally in the Nandigram constituency.

    Pradhan stated that two incidents of violence took place on Thursday. “In the morning at Kalicharanpur, crude bombs were hurled and injured few. I saw the injured Yuva Morcha worker while on way to campaigning,” he said after the visit to Reapara Rural Hospital.

    “There is yet another report coming of an attack on Adhikari. This is very serious. In a democracy, if the local police works in connivance with the TMC what will happen. I urge the Election Commission to intervene,” Pradhan added.

    The Minister said that BJP will request the Election Commission to have more paramilitary personnel deputed in Nandigram.

    “This is a constituency going through a sensitive phase. To create fear in minds of people. Our worker is in serious condition and I have been told that even in front of the hospital there are TMC’s goons. Since morning, such incidents are taking place,” Pradhan added.

    The clash during Adhikari’s campaigning resulted in an injury to a BJP worker. Pradhan Pradhan changed his plan of campaigning in the constituency and instead accompanied the injured worker to the hospital.

    Pradhan who arrived at Sonachura, a village in the Nandigram Assembly constituency, cut short his speech to visit the injured BJP worker, Purn Patra, at the hospital.

    Nandigram is a seat where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her former close aide Suvendu Adhikari are locked in a high voltage battle.

    On March 10, the Chief Minister had alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Banerjee sustained “severe bone 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. She was discharged from the hospital on March 12.

    Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

  • Election Commission transfers senior Bengal cop as his wife contests polls

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday transferred Superintendent of Police, Howrah (Rural) Saumya Roy to a non-election related post since his wife has been declared Trinamool Congress’s candidate for Sonarpur Dakshin assembly seat.

    The poll panel has now posted Shrihari Pandey, an IPS officer of 2011 batch, as SP, Howrah (Rural).

    “It may be noted that the transfer of the officer is based on a general principle that close relatives of active public representatives may not be assigned such duties during elections, which may create any perception of biases/partiality,” the EC told the West Bengal chief secretary in a communication.

    The poll panel also asked him to confirm that all senior officials connected with conduct of elections have given the certificate that they are not a close relative of any of the contesting candidates in the current assembly election in West Bengal.

    “If there is any such case, it may be reported to the Commission immediately,” it said.

  • ‘Do not belittle institution with repeated innuendos’: EC warns Mamata Banerjee

    The Election Commission concurred with its two poll observers that there was no pre-meditated attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram.

  • BJP activists clash with cops as protests over candidate selection continue in Bengal ahead of polls

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: BJP workers across Bengal continued their protest over the party’s candidate selection on Tuesday, with many of them staging demonstrations outside the saffron camp’s election office here, and others hurling stones at some of the nominees, prompting police action.

    Several saffron party workers clashed with the police, when they were stopped from gheraoing candidates who were about to enter the party office to meet their seniors.

    The police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the protesters — many of them active members from Canning West, Magrahat, Kultali and Joynagar in South 24 Parganas — outside the party’s Hastings office in the city.

    At least six activists were detained, and one policeman injured in the melee.

    “We want immediate withdrawal of Arnab Roy’s candidature from Canning West seat. He switched over to the BJP from the TMC only five days ago,” a party activist from the constituency said. The protesters claimed that TMC leaders involved in corruption have been given nomination by the BJP.

    Some of them also said that the turncoats had once unleashed violence on BJP members.

    “We will sit idle and not work for the party’s election campaign if the candidate list is not revised,” Ronny Manna, a long-time BJP worker from Magrahat, said.

    Demonstrations outside the BJP’s election office here and other parts of the state have been underway since Sunday evening, after the announcement of the party’s second list of 63 candidates for the third and fourth phase of elections in Bengal.

    Activists vandalised party offices, harassed central leaders and blocked roads by burning tyres in several places.

    Sayantan Basu, the BJP’s state general secretary, said the leadership was looking into the matter.

    “The party is growing in size, as more and more people continue to join us. The number of aspirants has swelled. There are bound to be some problems, but that will be addressed soon,” he claimed.

    Reacting to the incident of the police lathi-charge, BJP state spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said the “that was totally uncalled for”.

    “The lathi-charge was unprovoked and unwarranted. We don’t believe our activists hurled stones at anyone,” he said.

    Denying the charge, a senior police officer said action had to be taken to control the agitators, “who were getting violent”.

  • BJP’s performance in upcoming Bengal polls will be like Sourav Ganguly’s batting: Rajnath Singh

    By ANI
    WEST MIDNAPORE: Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that whenever former Indian skipper and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly stepped out of the crease, it was sure that he would hit a six, similarily, the BJP has crossed the crease and will surely hit a six in upcoming polls and form the government in West Bengal.

    “Whenever Sourav Ganguly crossed the crease, it was sure that he would hit a six. Likewise, with your support in Lok Sabha, we have crossed the crease and surely we will hit a six in Assembly polls and form BJP government here,” said the Union Minister while addressing a public meeting here.

    These comments come at a time when speculation is rife over Ganguly joining BJP ahead of the polls.

    Earlier today, the Defence Minister had said the BJP will form the government in West Bengal with a clear majority.

    “The numbers in 2019 Lok Sabha polls is an indication of the change that is going to happen in Bengal with the upcoming state Legislative Assembly election,” Singh said.

    Asked if going to elections without a Chief Minister candidate face will cause a loss to the BJP, he said, “No. Ours is a democratic party. The elected MLAs will choose their leader.”

    Elections to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

  • ‘What about the agony of families of BJP workers killed in TMC rule’: Amit Shah to Mamata on her injury

    By PTI
    RANIBANDH: Wishing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speedy recovery, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that she is in pain due to her injury and wondered whether she could feel the agony of the families of BJP workers killed during TMC’s rule in the state.

    Shah, who was addressing a poll rally here, said 130 BJP workers were killed by TMC goons.

    He hit out at the TMC for not doing enough for the development of the minorities and introducing cut money culture in the state.

    He promised that if BJP is voted to power in West Bengal in the ooming Assembly poll it will implement the seventh Pay Commission for the state government employees.

    “Didi (elder sister) when you were hurt in your leg you felt pain. I wish you speedy recovery. But what about the pain of the mothers of 130 BJP activists who were killed by TMC goons? Did you ever try to feel their pain?” he said at the rally.ALSO READ | Bengal was once India’s leader now entangled in ‘goondaraj’: Amit ShaH”You never felt the pain of these people. They will give you a befitting reply while casting their votes in the assembly poll,” he added.

    Banerjee was injured at Nandigram on March 10 while campaigning after filing her nomination for the seat where she will take on her former protege and now BJP heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari.

    Ridiculing Banerjee’s allegations of an attack on her at Nandigram that left her injured in the leg, Shah said as per the EC’s report there was no attack on her.

    “The EC is saying that there was no attack. But she is saying there was a conspiracy. The TMC is saying there was an attack. Only God knows who is speaking the truth,” he said. Shah raked up the incident to mock Banerjee in his virtual address at a rally in tribal Jhargram.

    Shah said, “I was going to come here for campaigning. Unfortunately my helicopter developed a snag and I couldn’t come to see you. But I won’t call it a conspiracy”.ALSO READ | ‘BJP will bring back Sonar Bangla’: Amit Shah tells voters ahead of WB Assembly elections

    His comments come after BJP leaders from Bengal accused the TMC supremo of enacting a drama to seek sympathy votes in the upcoming assembly polls.

    Banerjee was injured on March 10 and was admitted to SSKM hospital in Kolkata.

    She was discharged on March 12.

    Shah hit out at the TMC government for not doing enough for the development of minorities and said the Mamata Banerjee dispensation had indulged in corruption in tribal welfare schemes.

    “TMC seeks cut money even for giving a tribal certificate. We will ensure the land rights of the tribals. The special focus will be on education, health and drinking water for the tribals in the area. We will also mention it in our manifesto,” he said.

    In his virtual address Shah highlighted designated central schemes for the tribal communities which the state government did not implement properly.

    “Special stress will be given to the education of tribal students. We will provide 50 er cent financial assistance those among them who score above 70 per cent,” he said.

    Alleging that the TMC government has introduced “cut money culture” in West Bengal, Shah said BJP will change the situation in the state.

    “This is BJP’s fight to make Bengal ‘Sonar Bangla’. Our goal is to ensure that there is a change in West Bengal’s situation, a change in the situation of the poor of the state. Our aim is to end infiltration and also transform Bengal,” he said.

    The top BJP leader alleged that TMC is indulging in appeasement politics.

    “Whenever there is a festive occasion such as Durga Puja, you all have to go to court to take permission for the processions under Mamata Ji’s rule. You all have to change this situation,” Shah said at the rally.

    Reaching out to West Bengal government employees and said the seventh Pay Commission will be implemented in the state if the saffron party is voted to power.

    Ranibandh is a part of the western district of Bankura which has a significant tribal population, crucial to any party’s electoral success.

  • Supreme Court refuses to entertain BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari’s PIL

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the petition filed by newly joined BJP leader, Soumendu Adhikari, who had knocked the top court alleging that the West Bengal government had played petty politics with him and it removed him from the Chairmanship of a local municipality board in the state, after his brother Suvendu Adhikari, resigned from the Trinamool Congress to join BJP.

    A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana said: “You (Soumendu Adhikari) wait for the Calcutta High Court order.”

    The petitioner had approached the Apex Court against the adjournment of his case in the Calcutta High Court, which had not passed any order and deferred his petition in the case.

    It was subsequently challenged by Soumendu Adhikari before the Supreme Court seeking appropriate directions in his case, as the West Bengal government allegedly had in February removed him from the said post. 

  • Bengal was once India’s leader now entangled in ‘goondaraj’: Amit Shah

    By ANI
    JHARGRAM: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that West Bengal was once India’s leader and now the state is entangled in “goondaraj”.

    “Bengal was at one time was India’s leader. It was the hub of education, freedom fighters, religious leadership and more. The same Bengal is entangled in goondaraj,” said Shah during the virtual rally here on Monday.

    He further said that the TMC government has taken Bengal to new lows in the last 10 years.

    “Corruption, political violence, polarisation, Hindus and SC/STs had to go to courts for celebrating their festivals – this is the sort of situation they have brought to the state, ruining development in the state,” Shah said.

    After forming the government in West Bengal, he said: “We will build the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University, in Jhargram for improving opportunities for tribal students.”

    “We will be providing 50 per cent financial assistance to students from tribal community scoring above 70 per cent, in the class 12 exam, for higher education,” he added.

    “Under Stand Up India Scheme, the forthcoming West Bengal govt will allocate Rs 100 crores to help the tribal community become atmanirbhar,” he added.

    Shah was scheduled to address public meetings in Jhargram in West Bengal but unfortunately, his helicopter got damaged and he was unable to visit Jhargram.

    “I was going to come here for campaigning. Unfortunately, my helicopter was damaged and I couldn’t come to see you. West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh our in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya are also present with me,” said Shah.

    Elections to 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

  • Denied poll ticket, BJP aspirants protest across Bengal; TMC turncoat Sovan Chatterjee quits

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The BJP on Sunday came out with the names of 63 candidates for the third and fourth phases of assembly polls in West Bengal, nominating four MPs including Union minister Babul Supriyo and several new faces, triggering protests and resignations in various parts of the state.

    In a surprise move, the party nominated Trinamool Congress turncoat and octogenarian sitting MLA of Singur, Rabindranath Bhattacharya.

    Of late, the BJP has not been nominating such elderly persons as poll candidates.

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party general secretary Arun Singh and Union ministers Supriyo and Debasree Chaudhuri released the names of 63 candidates for West Bengal assembly polls.

    For the high-stakes battle in the state, the BJP has fielded a Union minister, three sitting MPs, a noted economist and several film personalities.

    The list also has seven women candidates and eight turncoats, including former state minister and TMC leader Rajib Banerjee, who had recently quit the party to join the saffron camp.

    The list does not feature any candidate from the minority community.

    While Supriyo, the Union minister of state for environment, forest & climate change, was nominated from the Tollygunge seat in Kolkata, Lok Sabha MPs Nisith Pramanik and Locket Chatterjee have been selected for Dinhata and Chunchura constituencies respectively.

    ALSO READ | Bengal will never bow down before outsiders: TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee attacks BJP

    Pramanik and Chatterjee, a former actress, have been fielded from assembly constituencies that come under their respective Lok Sabha seats.

    However, Supriyo has been nominated for a seat far away from his Lok Sabha constituency Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district.

    He is pitted against senior TMC leader and minister Aroop Biswas.

    Senior journalist and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta is the BJP’s nominee for the Tarakeshwar assembly segment.

    Outgoing MLA of Singur and octogenarian leader Rabindranath Bhattacharya, who had crossed over from the Trinamool Congress after it denied him the ticket due to age factor, has been fielded from the same seat by the BJP.

    Besides Chatterjee, the party has given a ticket to film actresses such as Tanushree Chakraborty from Shyampur in Howrah district and Payel Sarkar from Behala Purba in Kolkata.

    Actor Yash Dasgupta has also been nominated from Chanditala in Hooghly district.

    The BJP also nominated former Chief Economic Advisor to the government, Ashok Lahiri, from the Alipurduar seat in North Bengal.

    ALSO READ | West Bengal polls: Babul Supriyo, Locket Chatterjee among BJP’s new list of candidates

    He has also served as the chairman of the Kolkata-based Bandhan Bank and was a member of the Finance Commission from 2017 to 2020.

    By fielding columnist Dasgupta and the economist Lahiri, the BJP has sought to impress the sophisticated ‘Bhadralok’ community of the eastern state, political observers said, noting the Bengali intelligentsia refrained from backing the saffron party in 2019 Lok Sabha polls despite a large consolidation of Hindu votes around it.

    Hours after the candidates’ names were announced, the rift between old-timers and newcomers in West Bengal BJP came out in the open as several aspirants voiced their anguish against the party and resigned after they were denied tickets, while protests were held across the state.

    BJP leader and TMC turncoat Sovan Chattopadhyay along with his friend Baisakhi Bandyopadhyay quit the party after both of them were denied tickets.

    Chatterjee’s constituency for several decades, Behala Purba, was given to actor-turned- politician Payel Sarkar, who joined the party a few days back.

    In his resignation letter to the party’s state president Dilip Ghosh, Chattopadhyay accused the saffron camp of humiliating him.

    The nomination of Ashok Lahiri from the Alipurduar seat and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha turncoat Bishal Lama from Kalchini triggered a wave of protests in North Bengal with the local leadership hitting the streets.

    In Hooghly district’s Singur assembly constituency, BJP activists locked up party functionaries over the nomination of TMC turncoat and sitting MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya.

    Angry BJP workers ransacked a party office in Panchla seat in Howrah district, where TMC turncoat Mohitlal Ghati was given the poll ticket.

    Rantideb Sengupta, who was fielded from Howrah Dakshin seat, declined to contest after the list was announced, citing personal reasons.

    However, the central leadership of the party intervened and persuaded him to contest from the constituency.

    Protests were also held in various other constituencies after ticket aspirants didn’t find their names in the list.

    Shyampur is one such constituency where actress Tanushree Chakraborty, a newcomer in the BJP, was nominated.

    Several district-level leaders also resigned from the party after failing to get tickets.

    The BJP’s Bengal leadership said that they would look into the matter and the issues would be resolved through discussions.

    Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be conducted in eight phases between March 27 and April 29.

    The counting of votes will take place on May 2.