'Will Complain To EC': Mamata Banerjee Lashes Out At PM Modi For 'Vote Marketing' In Bangladesh

The TMC supremo’s outburst comes as Prime Minister Modi, presently on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, visited the Matua temple at Orakandi. The visit coincided with voting for the first phase of the West Bengal polls where the TMC is locked in a bitter contest with the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Image: PTI)

Kolkata: Linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing official visit to Bangladesh with the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that she would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) in this regard.

Banerjee also asked why visa of the Prime Minister must not be cancelled as the visa of a Bangladeshi actor was cancelled when he attended the Trinamool Congress (TMC) rally during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

“In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when a Bangladeshi actor attended our rally, the BJP spoke to the Bangladesh Government and cancelled his visa.... When polls are underway here, you (PM) go to Bangladesh to seek votes from one section of the people, why shouldn't your visa be cancelled? We will complain to the EC,” TMC supremo said while addressing a rally in Kharagpur.

"Elections are underway here and he [PM] goes to Bangladesh and lectures on Bengal. It is a total violation of code of conduct of the election," she added.

The TMC supremo’s outburst comes as Prime Minister Modi, presently on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, visited the Matua temple at Orakandi. The visit coincided with voting for the first phase of the West Bengal polls where the TMC is locked in a bitter contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Prime Minister Modi, who paid respects to Matua sect founder Harichand Thakur, while speaking on the occasion announced that India would upgrade one girls’ middle school with latest facilities besides setting up a primary school in the region.

Meanwhile, West Bengal has recorded 70 percent voter turnout till 4:30 p.m. in the first phase of the assembly elections. The polling, which began at 7 a.m. for 30 seats, is presently on amid tight security. Over 73 lakh voters will decide the fate of 191 candidates in these seats.

Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is being held in eight phases. The last phase will be held on April 29 while the results will be declared on May 2.