West Bengal Battle Gets Murky As TMC, BJP Now Engage In Audio War - Check Viral Clips Here

Pal in a video released by the BJP claimed that the Chief Minister had dialled him up and urged him to "work for her and return to the TMC". The TMC has, however, rubbished the accusations and claimed the voice in the purported call recording is not verified.

Kolkata: Even as West Bengal is voting in the first phase of the assembly elections, an audio war broke out between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday amid claims that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dialled saffron party leader Pralay Pal and sought his assistance to win the Nandigram seat where she is pitted against her former protégé Suvendu Adhikari.

Pal in a video released by the BJP claimed that the Chief Minister had dialled him up and urged him to "work for her and return to the TMC".

The TMC has, however, rubbished the accusations and claimed the voice in the purported call recording is not verified.

The TMC also put out a counter audio-tape of a conversation between two BJP leaders. The ruling party in West Bengal has alleged that BJP’s Mukul Roy can be heard briefing party leader Shishir Bajoria on ways to influence the Election Commission in the purported audio clip, which the TMC also shared on Twitter.

The TMC has alleged Roy tells Bajoria in the audio clip that they must approach the poll body asking for changes in rules so that others are allowed to be booth agents and not just in localities or else the BJP won’t be able to give agents in a large section of booths.

The TMC has claimed that rules were changed in favour of the BJP without extensive consultation with other political parties soon after the saffron party made the representation before the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Subrata Mukherjee while reacting to the BJP’s audio clip claims said that his is proud to have a leader like Mamata Banerjee, adding putting efforts to convince an efficient worker to come back shows party’s “true democratic nature”.

“In fact when they end the conversation, both sides showed extreme courtesy. We appreciate that. Mamata wished him well despite his differences,” he said, adding this “only shows how Mamata Banerjee values her party workers”.

Taking the BJP to task, Mukherjee further said “the kind of spin they want to give, they will never succeed”.

The BJP too left no stones unturned in taking potshots at the TMC with party leader Shishir Bajoria stating Mamata Banerjee has now realized her party is losing the elections.

“In the audiotape that I played now, state CM is seeking help from a BJP (Nandigram) district vice-president and requesting him to return to TMC. This shows that she has realised that TMC is losing the election,” ANI quoted Bajoria as saying.

BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya, who is the saffron party’s West Bengal co-in-charge, also used the occasion to take a jibe at Mamata Banerjee stating “Pishi is definitely losing Nandigram and TMC Bengal...”.

“Massive! Mamata Banerjee calls Proloy Pal, BJP’s district Vice President in Nandigram and pleads for help! Proloy tells her that he was humiliated in TMC and he along with this family cannot betray the BJP. Pishi is definitely losing Nandigram and TMC Bengal... [sic],” he tweeted.

Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is being held in eight phases. Polling for the Nandigram Assembly seat will take place on April 1.

The last phase will be held on April 29 while the results will be declared on May 2.