Trinamool MLA’s “vote at your own risk” threat to BJP supporters tweeted by Bengal’s Opposition party

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has posted a video of a Trinamool Congress leader speaking to his party workers where he asks them to threaten BJP supporters ahead of the upcoming Asansol Lok Sabha seat byelection.

“Those who are hardcore BJP supporters and cannot be influenced, have to be threatened. Tell them, ‘if you go to vote, we will assume you will vote for BJP. Then, after the vote, where you will be is your risk. But if you don’t go to vote, we will assume that you are supporting us, and then you will stay well and do your job or business…” Trinamool Congress’ Pandabeswar MLA Naren Chakraborty is seen telling party workers in Bengali.

The video was shared by BJP’s senior leaders, including IT cell chief Amit Malviya and Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Pandabeswar is under Asansol Lok Sabha seat. A bypoll is scheduled there on April 12, which fell vacant after BJP’s Babul Supriyo quit the party and joined Trinamool Congress.

Amit Malviya tweeted: “Such criminals should be behind bars but in Bengal Mamata Banerjee patronises them. ECI must take note.” Adhikari meanwhile, in his tweet, wrote that Chakraborty was earlier a member of the Burdwan zilla parishad and president of Trinamool’s Pandabeswar block unit.

Trinamool Congress has not yet given an official statement on the matter. Trinamool has fielded Shatrughan Sinha and BJP has nominated Agnimitra Paul to contest for the Asansol seat. Babul Supriyo is contesting from Ballygunge Assembly seat from Trinamool Congress.