The Trinamool Congress has raised issues with the Election Commission of India regarding alleged police harassment faced by its local leaders and workers in a crucial Assembly constituency in West Bengal. The party’s National Working Committee member, Derek O’Brien, wrote to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer seeking protection for party members in Nandigram, the native constituency of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari is contesting from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly seats, the latter against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Within 24 hours of Adhikari’s complaint about police monitoring in Bhabanipur, the Trinamool Congress approached the ECI with its own complaints of harassment in Nandigram. O’Brien accused Adhikari of influencing police actions in Nandigram, leading to raids and searches at Trinamool Congress members’ residences. This biased police activity, according to O’Brien, undermines fair polls and weakens the party’s presence in the constituency.
Expressing concerns about potential electoral malpractices, O’Brien warned of rigging, booth capturing, and voter intimidation in Nandigram if the one-sided police approach persists. Nandigram is scheduled for polling on April 23, while Bhabanipur will vote on April 29.
