The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Trinamool Congress (TMC) launched a critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, questioning the integrity of the ‘Modi ki guarantee’ campaign slogan and alleging that it symbolizes the ruling party’s encroachment on institutions and failure to fulfill electoral promises. TMC representatives Sagarika Ghose and Babul Supriyo articulated their concerns during a press briefing in New Delhi, also casting doubt on the Election Commission’s impartiality in light of recent directives to transfer officials ahead of the polls, advocating for equitable conditions for all political parties.
Ghose dismissed the ‘Modi ki guarantee’ as a facade, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of focusing more on electoral success than on governing, highlighting a pattern of unkept promises post-elections. She suggested that the real essence of ‘Modi ki guarantee’ lies in the alleged manipulation and control over institutions, exemplified by administrative changes in Bengal aimed at influencing election outcomes.
Supriyo specifically addressed the extended election schedule in West Bengal, spread across all seven phases, as potentially diluting voter engagement and unfairly benefiting certain political agendas. He pointed to the transfer of the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) as indicative of a broader strategy to skew the electoral process, urging the Election Commission to safeguard the integrity of the elections by ensuring a level competitive field.
The TMC’s discontent extends to the Election Commission’s decision to replace West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar with Vivek Sahay, a move that has intensified the political rivalry between the TMC and BJP in the state. The TMC accuses the BJP of exerting undue influence over the constitutional body, further alleging that the saffron party’s reach has extended into government communications, as demonstrated by a controversial WhatsApp message campaign soliciting citizen feedback accompanied by a letter from the Prime Minister.
This campaign, according to Ghose, epitomizes the eroding distinction between the state machinery and BJP’s political interests, using state resources to disadvantage opposition parties. The TMC’s allegations underscore a broader critique of the BJP’s electoral practices, accusing it of leveraging government tools for partisan gain, thereby challenging the principles of fair play and democratic integrity in the electoral process.
