In Bengal, BJP should field central agencies’ chiefs, says Abhishek Banerjee
Times of India | 31 March 2024
Mathurapur (South 24-Parganas): BJP should field the chiefs of central agencies — CBI, ED, I-T and NIA — from the four Bengal Lok Sabha constituencies where it has been unable to find candidates, Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said Saturday.
“Like Meghnad of Ramayana, they should not fight from behind the clouds. Let them step out and fight the political battles as candidates in people’s court,” Abhishek said at a rally in Mathurapur.
He was referring to the Diamond Harbour, Asansol, Birbhum and Jhargram, the LS seats for which BJP had not announced candidates till Saturday evening.Later at night, BJP announced nominees for Birbhum and Jhargram. “BJP is not get- ting a candidate in Diamond Harbour (Abhishek’s seat), let the ED director fight here himself. Let the CBI director fight polls, too. He has waged a lot of (political) battles. They have served BJP enough....People in Bengal will show them their place,” Abhishek said.
The attack came a day after TMC submitted a memorandum to Election Commission on “selective raids” by central agencies against party candidates and leaders to stop them from poll-related work. “BJP is playing IPL 2024 with ED, CBI & Income Tax Dept. as impact players. From arresting popularly elected CMs to harassing our leaders, BJP has left no stone unturned to crush opposition voices in their desperate bid to gain an unfair advantage in the elections,” TMC posted on X.