In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, the TMC asked the poll panel to refrain the PM and other BJP leaders from making “monetary promises and/or announcing new schemes/policies/laws” during the election process, saying it violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
In a telephonic conversation with Roy on Tuesday, Modi said he was exploring “legal options” to return nearly Rs 3,000 crore to the poor people in West Bengal, which was seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during their raids in the state. “This is poor man’s money. Someone gave money to be a teacher, someone gave money to be a clerk…. I am taking legal advice, and if my legal advice is given to the new government, they will have to make legal arrangements, rules, and ways to return the money of the poor,” the PM told Roy.
The audio clip of the PM’s call to the BJP candidate was released by the BJP on Wednesday.
“It has come to our attention that the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has been a part of a telephonic conversation with Smt Amrita Roy, a BJP candidate contesting from 12 – Krishnanagar Parliamentary Constituency on 27th March, 2024… The aforesaid conversation is in violation of various provisions of the MCC and other extant laws,” the TMC complaint said.
“The amount at all purportedly seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot be distributed by the government as promised by Shri Narendra Modi. The process of law allows the restoration of alleged recovered money/property only in terms of set procedures. In any case, the supposed Rs 3000 crore recovered/attached/seized by the ED is an unverified and unconfirmed number. From these statements, it is clear that he is portraying his interest in introducing a new scheme or a provision of law, whereby he is aiming to distribute an amount of Rs 3000 crore to the people of Bengal which was purportedly recovered/attached/seized by the ED. The above statements are a clear violation of the MCC.”
“The act conducted by Shri Narendra Modi is an attempt to sway the voters with monetary benefits, which is also a corrupt practice and is a form of bribery to achieve undue influence within the meaning of the provisions of the Representation of the People, Act, 1951,” the TMC said, adding, “It is evident that such promises are being made by him to disrupt the very ideology of ensuring a level playing field by illegally garnering votes for the BJP.”