Bengal Panchayat Polls: BJP Writes To EC Alleging Model Code Of Conduct Violations, Seeks Prompt Action

The BJP wrote to the state election commissioner about the ruling party allegedly violating the model code of conduct after the Panchayat election dates were announced.

The West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised concern on Saturday about the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) allegedly violating the model code of conduct following the announcement of Panchayat election dates in the state. In a letter to the State Election Commissioner, the BJP highlighted the reported misconduct by the TMC and urged the Commissioner to take appropriate action. 

Earlier in the day, Governor CV Ananda Bose visited some of the violence-hit areas in north Bengal's Cooch Behar district, where political clashes erupted in the run-up to the state's crucial panchayat elections on July 8.

During his visit, Bose met with the families of two victims killed in the political clashes in June. He also went to a hospital to see people who had been injured in the clashes.

Sambhu Das, the brother-in-law of a BJP panchayat candidate, was killed on June 17, while TMC worker Babu Haque was killed last week as a result of the state's political unrest.

Another local BJP leader, Prasanta Basunia, was allegedly shot dead in the district in June. Bose met the family members of Das and Basunia on Saturday.

Bose arrived in Cooch Behar late Friday night while on a trip to the northern district. After the state poll panel announced the dates for the crucial panchayat elections last month, political clashes erupted in the district.

On Saturday, opposition candidates and workers from the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM), and the Congress gathered at the circuit house where the governor had set up shop. He spoke with the candidates who expressed their concern about the recent incidents of violence in Cooch Behar. Some claimed that TMC employees would not allow them to campaign before the election.

Even as the governor was stationed in the district and touring the violence-plagued areas, allegations surfaced that a Congress candidate's home had been attacked and set on fire.

Clashes were also reported from Bhangore in South 24 Parganas where crude bombs were hurled. A clash broke out allegedly between the TMC and CPIM at Duttapukur in North 24 Parganas.

Since the panchayat polls were announced in early June, at least 11 people have been killed and dozens have been injured across the state. The Calcutta High Court has ordered the state election commission to deploy central forces in all districts.