The Aryavarth Express
Agency(West Bengal): The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has made a formal request to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for conducting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections across West Bengal’s 42 parliamentary constituencies in a single phase. The request was put forth by a TMC delegation, led by Lok Sabha member Kalyan Bandopadhyay, during a meeting with the full bench of the ECI in Kolkata on Monday, March 4.
Kalyan Bandopadhyay voiced concerns over the phased polling process, suggesting that it would inadvertently benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. He highlighted the early deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal, alleging that their presence has been intimidating to the local populace, with reports of them coercing individuals to vote for the BJP. He further accused Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, of orchestrating the movements of the CAPF to serve the interests of the BJP.
The TMC delegation stressed the need for the Election Commission to ensure a transparent and unbiased electoral process. Bandopadhyay’s remarks extended to a call for oversight on not just the enforcement agencies like ED and CBI but also elements within the judiciary perceived to be aligned with the BJP.
The state BJP leadership responded to the TMC’s demand for a single-phase election by interpreting it as a sign of fear. They argued that the TMC is apprehensive about losing control and the ability to influence the electoral outcome through violence if the elections are stretched over multiple phases. It’s worth noting that the last Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, held in 2019, were conducted in seven phases.
This development marks yet another chapter in the ongoing political rivalry between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal, with both parties gearing up for a contentious battle in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.