The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of grossly violating the model code of conduct in collusion with election officials. The alleged violations took place during the campaigning for the upcoming bye-elections in the Dhanpur and Boxanagar assembly constituencies.
Jitendra Choudhury, the State Secretary of CPM, voiced concerns that the BJP, with the tacit support of election officials, had engaged in actions that go against the principles of fair campaigning. Choudhury detailed an incident wherein a CPM procession heading towards the election office for nomination filing was halted under the pretext of it being a restricted area. In stark contrast, top BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Manik Saha, were allowed to address a gathering without any hindrance.
Choudhury expressed apprehensions about the impartiality of the election process, stating, “We have reasons to apprehend that if election authorities fail to hold the violators accountable, it will have serious repercussions on the integrity of the entire electoral process.” He went on to highlight the BJP’s alleged history of employing such tactics in previous elections, including the last assembly poll and raised concerns that similar strategies might be employed during the upcoming bye-polls with the aid of both law enforcement and election machinery.
Choudhury also wrote a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Puneet Agarwal, asserting that the District Election Officer (DEO) had been duly informed of the situation, but no corrective measures had been taken so far. Choudhury further alleged that despite his written request to the DEO, asking for the removal of all promotional materials showcasing the achievements of the BJP government in the districts where the bye-polls are scheduled, these materials remained prominently visible.
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