CM cop-threat on EC's radar - Panel seeks speech report from DM

TT, Calcutta, May 2: The Election Commission is examining the footage and transcript of Mamata Banerjee's campaign speech on May Day in which she launched a thinly veiled attack on the Calcutta police commissioner and central forces and issued a public warning that "they will have to suffer in the coming days".

Calcutta police, led by commissioner Soumen Mitra, had been hailed widely for helping the central forces conduct a trouble-free election in the city on Saturday.

The following day, Mamata told a campaign rally at East Midnapore's Chandipur without mentioning Mitra by name: " Ponero dineyr jonyo keu daitwo peye shey jodi bhabey amay aamar jiboner swapna, aamake swarna mukut poriye debe keu, sheta shob cheye bhul (If someone is given a responsibility for just 15 days and starts thinking their life's dream of wearing a gold crown will be fulfilled, that is the biggest mistake)."

Later, she had added: " Jara eshob korchhey mathay thake jeno agami diney tader bhugte hobey (Those who are doing all this should keep in mind that they will have to suffer in the coming days)."

Mitra was handpicked by the Election Commission to head Calcutta police during the poll process after his predecessor Rajeev Kumar was shifted following charges of bias.

Today, an official said the poll panel had acquired the video footage and transcript of the chief minister's East Midnapore campaign speeches and sought a report from the district magistrate.

"The commission had taken cognisance of it suo motu. A report has been sought from the district magistrate. Besides, Opposition parties have lodged formal complaints demanding action against her. The footage and the transcript will be examined for a decision on this," said a commission source this evening.

The commission is also looking into Mamata's speech at another rally in Panskura, where she attacked the "Delhi police" - a reference to the central forces - who were being used to "terrorise voters".

Mamata has already been showcaused by the commission once this poll season, for her April 9 campaign speech at Asansol where she had promised the formation of a new Asansol district. Although it was technically not a violation of the model code of conduct because she had reiterated a December 2015 cabinet decision, an avoidable controversy was stirred when the chief secretary, not the chief minister, chose to reply to the commission initially.

The state BJP, which has lodged a complaint with the commission demanding an FIR against Mamata for threatening public servants, is also considering legal options.

"She issued a clear threat to the police force, particularly those in high positions, saying that she will take revenge once the polls are over, if she returns to power. With a phase of polling still left, this intimidates cops and encourages Trinamul's goons to vitiate the poll process," said state BJP leader Sisir Bajoria.

State Congress general secretary Amitabha Chakraborty attributed Mamata's attacks to her "raw fear" of being defeated by the Congress-Left alliance and demanded "exemplary" action by the commission.

"She has made it fairly obvious through these speeches that her activists loot votes and rig polls, which has become difficult this time," he said after lodging a similar complaint with the commission.