'Trinamul workers being targeted unfairly': Poll panel unfairly detaining Trinamul workers, says Mamata

CM shares WhatsApp messages of special observers, vows to move SC to seek justice against 'biased EC'

Mamata Banerjee virtually addresses people in Bengal during her election campaign at Bolpur in Birbhum on Saturday.: PTI

Arnab Ganguly   |  TT  |  Calcutta   | 24.04.21 : Ahead of the seventh phase of voting in Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee shared WhatsApp messages, allegedly exchanged between three special observers of the poll panel asking police personnel to detain Trinamul workers, to boltser her claim that the Election Commission of India was in cahoots with the BJP.

Addressing the media in Bolpur on Saturday, Mamata even threatened to move the Supreme Court, saying that she had gathered enougg evidence to prove her point that the poll panel was biased.

“These observers are describing Trinamul party workers as trouble mongers. I have got copies of the messages exchanged between them and the officers. Some of our DMs and SPs are exceeding limits to keep them happy, following their orders. Are they BJP’s mynah? I won’t say anything now. After the polls I will take this up,” Mamata said.

She said the Centre was aware that the Covid situation would worsen in January, but did not take any steps. Instead, the Centre went ahead with eight-phase elections in Bengal to satisfy their "lust for power", she added.

“The PM and Union home minister should resign. The EC could have held the polls in three phases. It was stretched to help the BJP win Bengal. One party’s lust for power has landed us in this situation. Why didn’t the EC listen to us? Why elections had to be stretched to eight-phases, when it was clear that Covid is spreading?” she said.

Mamata also questioned the Centre's decision to announce multiple pricing for the Covid vaccine. “Why can’t the Centre give free vaccine to every citizen? Why separate prices? What is going on? They have destroyed the country. Total negligence. A monumentally incompetent government,” she said.

After the elections were over, Mamata said, she would knock on the doors of the apex court. “I have gathered all the evidence, all the documents. I will move the Supreme Court with these seeking its intervention for free and fair polls,” she said. “Retired people are being sent as observers. These retired people are issuing orders to serving officers,” she added.

After the Election Commission’s belated action of banning rallies in the wake of the deteriorating Covid pandemic, Mamata has been holding news conferences instead of large public meetings. The remaining two phases of the eight-phase elections in Bengal will be held on onday, April 26 and Thursday, April 29.

“In Naihati, Bijpur, Kanchrapara, Jagatdal what happened (during the polls on April 22) was under BJP’s instruction. In Budbud, Mangalkote, Islampur, Goalpokhor our workers were picked up from their homes early in the morning and detained for the entire day. All of this was done to ensure a victory for the BJP,” she alleged.

Yet, Mamata said confidently, such high-handed measures would not be able to  stop the Trinamul Congress from returning to power for a third term. 

“Even after all of this, BJP won’t cross 70. The CPM-Congress together will get some 20-22 seats. Nobody can stop the Trinamul,” she said.

The first five phases of voting in Bengal has seen violence, especially in the second and the fifth phases. Five persons were killed in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi on polling day after central forces opened fire, allegedly to save themselves from an angry mob. 

For the remining two phases, Mamata has aksed her party workers in the districts going to polls to be extra cautious.

“Our workers in Birbhum, Murshidabad, Maldah have to stay alert. Like Covid, we also must take precautions against this EC-BJP conspiracy. If any worker is detained, his family members should go to the police station, gherao the thana and demand why he/she has been detained. If necessary go to the high court, and Supreme Court. Don’t forget to lodge an FIR,” she said.

Mamata gave the same advise to her trusted aide, Birbhum district Trinamul chief Anubrata Mondal. “They are very angry with him. This time if they try to keep you under observation, go to the court. They cannot do this with anyone,” she told him.

Mamata also blamed the BJP for the current Covid crisis in the state. “Party cadres have come from other states, over two lakh centra force personnel have come here. They are moving from one district to another without undergoing Covid tests," she said, before visiting the temple at Tarapeeth and offering prayers.