Trinamool to EC: BJP indulged in violence, Central forces partisan under Home Minister’s instructions

Trinamool Congress leaders Yashwant Sinha, Subrata Mukherjee, Dola Sen and others called on the chief electoral officer on Friday and alleged violation of the right to vote freely, violence by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and dereliction of duty by the Central paramilitary force, acting under the instructions of the Union Home minister.

They made these allegations officially a day after 30 seats in four districts of south Bengal, including Nandigram, went to the polls amid violence and bloodshed.

The Trinamool delegation mentioned glitches in the electronic voting machines (EVM) and their displeasure in the way elections were conducted during the first and second phase for the 60 assembly seats. They requested the Election Commission (EC) to immediately check and replace the EVMs assigned to the state and ensure that malfunctioning of machines do not occur in the remaining phases.

The letter mentions that the paramilitary forces, “under instructions of the Home minister, has acted in complete departure from its duty and responsibility to act impartially by (a) being a mute spectator to the continual violence perpetrated by BJP and its goons; (b) perpetrating violence and intimidating electors voting for AITC [All India Trinamool Congress]; and (c) inducing voters in favour of BJP.”

Later, Sinha said, “We have pointed out anomalies what we experienced in the first two phases, especially the malfunctioning EVMs, violence by BJP and requested them to ensure it’s not repeated. We have told the EC that for the BJP, which is in power in the Centre, nothing is impossible and unethical. They are using their old tactics to stop the Opposition from voting.”