'Voter Cards Snatched, People Threatened': BJP Claims TMC 'Intimidating' Locals In Bengal's Sandeshkhali

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday alleged that Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government is using state machinery to influence voters of  Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, including Sandeshkhali–the epicentre of TMC BJP faceoff. The riverine island of Sandeshkhali in the Basirhat subdivision of Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district is voting in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha Election 2024 today.

BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya said the West Bengal police, on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s instruction, ran a ‘midnight operation’ to intimidate voters of Sandeshkhali.

“In a midnight operation, WB Police, on the instructions of Mamata Banerjee, is going door to door in Bermajur, which is in #Sandeshkhali, and intimidating BJP booth agents. Women are being threatened and abused. Their voter cards are being snatched and they are being told not to sit in the booths tomorrow. Power has been shut in the entire area. Local TMC goons are guiding the police. There is no woman cop accompanying them, as should have been the case, if this was a legitimate exercise. Mamata Banerjee will pay for her sins. But for now we are ensuring protection for our karyakartas,” Malviya said in a post on X.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari also claimed police personnel and civic volunteers in plain clothes are roaming around in different areas of the island to threaten voters, especially women.

“Mamata Banerjee’s last ditch desperate attempt to suppress Sandeshkhali before Election. “Chappal wearing” Police personnel & Civic Volunteers in plain clothes are roaming around in different areas of Sandeshkhali in order to intimidate and threaten Voters, especially women. However they were confronted by the brave Ladies of Sandeshkhali in the Booth nos 153 & 154; Bermojur 2 area of the Sandeshkhali Assembly Constituency. The Voters of the Basirhat Parliamentary Constituency will Vote tomorrow (technically today). Police is trying their level best to favour the ruling party,” he posted in X.

The minority-dominated Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, and specifically the Sandeshkhali segment, is a microcosm of the broader electoral battle as it garnered national attention due to allegations of atrocities on women and land grabs by local TMC leaders.

Sandeshkhali had shot into the limelight on January 5 when and Enforcement Department team was attacked there when it had gone to raid the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam.

The BJP has capitalised on these issues by nominating Rekha Patra, a prominent local protestor, against TMC veteran Haji Nurul Islam.

The CPI (M) has fielded former MLA Nirapada Sardar, making this a three-cornered contest.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website