The Aryavarth Express:
Kharagpur, April 2: BJP leader and candidate Dilip Ghosh on Thursday raised concerns about the law and order situation in Kaliachak, West Bengal, claiming it could pose challenges to conducting free and fair elections.
Speaking to reporters, Ghosh alleged that the area has a history of unrest and criminal activity. He referred to past incidents, including the torching of a police station, and pointed to its proximity to the Bangladesh border, claiming that infiltration and anti-social activities are ongoing.
“The place has serious law and order issues. If this continues, it will be difficult to conduct elections there,” he said, while also accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of supporting such activities—an allegation the party has not responded to in this context.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Election Commission of India, alleging attempts to manipulate the state’s electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
In her letter, Banerjee claimed that large numbers of Form 6 applications were being submitted to include non-residents in voter lists, calling it a “grave conspiracy” against democratic rights. She urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately, halt the process, and ensure that no ineligible voters are added after the final electoral roll was published in February 2026.
The Chief Minister also alleged that similar tactics had been used in past elections in other states, and warned that West Bengal would not allow any attempt to “hijack” its democracy.
The exchange of accusations comes as political tensions rise in the state ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, with both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress intensifying their campaigns.
