Trouble for BJP candidate Soumitra Kha: can’t enter his constituency (and the rest of Bankura) for now, says High Court

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Soumitra Kha has been prevented from entering Bankura district for the next six weeks by the Calcutta High Court.

This means trouble for Kha as he is the BJP’s candidate from the Bishnupur constituency in this district. Kha has recently left the Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP, and has been made BJP’s candidate from Bishnupur, where he had won in 2014 on Trinamool Congress ticket. The Court however, has said he cannot be immediately arrested.

Complaints were lodged against Kha in four cases – in cases relating to illegal sand mining and receiving money from School Service Commission (SSC) candidates with the promise of clearing their examinations. In two cases, he has been granted anticipatory bail. But this was denied in two other cases – and the court has directed Kha to not enter Bankura district, though it was said additionally that he cannot be arrested immediately either.

Lawyers representing Kha however, have said that the allegations of taking money from SSC examinees was made after the examinations were over and results were out. They questioned the veracity of such a first information report. The Court has asked for the entire matter to be investigated, and the “larger conspiracy angle” to be probed thoroughly. SSC authorities have also been asked to be questioned in the matter. Following this, the Court restricted Kha’s entry into Bankura district. The next hearing is after four weeks.

But if Kha is not allowed to enter the district of which his constituency is a part, how will he participate in campaigns? BJP authorities have said that the party is now looking at the possibility of moving the Supreme Court. They would also ensure that members of Kha’s family will go door to door telling voters how leaders of the Opposition Trinamool Congress have taken resort to vindictive politics.