The West Bengal unit of the BJP filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sunday, seeking urgent action against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee for allegedly making “derogatory, provocative, and hateful” statements against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The BJP alleged that Banerjee’s remarks constitute a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in place ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Accompanying the complaint was a video clip in which the TMC leader is reportedly seen and heard making the alleged comments during a public address.
In its letter to the CEO, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, the BJP claimed that the statements were part of a “coordinated strategy” by the TMC leadership to fuel hostility, fear, polarisation and hatred.
“The statement is made calculatedly to demean, provoke and incite hostility, creating tension, animosity and polarisation within the electoral environment. The subject statement is not an isolated incident, but a part of a continuing and escalating pattern of provocative and intimidatory rhetoric by TMC leadership and its functionaries,” it said.
“The repetitive, frequent, similar statements by TMC functionaries targeting the BJP leadership and party strongly indicate the TMC leadership’s intent to tarnish the BJP’s reputation,” the letter added.
The BJP’s letter alleged that Banerjee’s statements were made under the command, direction, and tacit approval of party leadership, reflecting a systemic disregard for the MCC.
The Bengal BJP has urged the Election Commission to hold Banerjee guilty of violating the MCC, direct the immediate removal and censorship of the video content from all public platforms, issue a strict restraining order against Banerjee and other TMC functionaries to prevent further inflammatory speeches, and initiate appropriate criminal proceedings under applicable laws.
The escalating war of words comes as West Bengal prepares for a high-stakes election. On March 15, the Election Commission of India
announced that the state will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The results are scheduled to be declared on May 4.