Kolkata, April 19 -- The Trinamool Congress has lodged multiple complaints with the Election Commission, alleging serious violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by members and affiliates of the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. In a series of representations submitted on Sunday, the party flagged incidents ranging from violence and voter intimidation to alleged misuse of central forces and inducement of voters, urging immediate intervention to ensure free and fair polls.

In one complaint, TMC alleged that BJP leaders, including Pabitra Das, were involved in a late-night incident of violence and arson in the Khejuri Assembly Constituency of East Midnapore. According to the party, armed individuals attacked the residence of a TMC worker, causing injuries to family members and extensive damage to property. The incident was described as a premeditated attempt to terrorise political opponents and disrupt the electoral process.

In another representation, the party accused the BJP of facilitating the movement of non-residents into West Bengal to influence voters in the Jhargram district. TMC claimed that individuals, allegedly from Odisha, were found carrying large sums of cash meant for distribution among voters. It termed the act a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act and also a direct violation of the MCC.

The party also raised concerns over alleged data misuse and targeted campaigning, claiming that a consultancy firm, Sapience Research, along with BJP-linked individuals, accessed personal data of women voters and contacted them with inducements. According to TMC, such profiling and outreach amount to undue influence and a breach of voter privacy.

Further, TMC accused BJP leader Tapas Roy and CRPF personnel of entering residential complexes in Kolkata constituencies during campaign activities and intimidating residents. The party alleged that the involvement of central forces in such activities compromises electoral neutrality.

TMC has urged the ECI to issue show-cause notices, initiate FIRs and take necessary action in accordance with the law.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.