Dilip Ghosh, a frantic Bengal byelection candidate, wants the vote postponed; the election panel is awaiting his report.
“Imagine what ordinary voters are going through if an MP can be attacked,” BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said.
A day before the election, political tensions flared in Bhabanipur assembly constituency, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is running. BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh was shoved and heckled by alleged Trinamool Congress supporters, prompting his security officer to draw a pistol.
On September 30, Mr. Ghosh asked that the election for a new mayor be delayed until the crisis had subsided. On that same day, the Election Commission requested a report from the state government on what had transpired.
In support of Priyanka Tibrewal, BJP MP Arjun Singh encountered “go back” slogans from ruling Trinamool Congress workers.
Mr Ghosh was pushed and heckled while being protected by a group of security guards on the side of the road, according to reports on national television. Unbeknownst to the crowd, a Trinamool supporter had grabbed a security guard by the collar and pulled a pistol on him in an attempt to scare them away.
Ghosh was attacked after entering a vaccination camp in his constituency’s Jodubabur Bazaar area, where a by-election is scheduled for September 30. According to Trinamool supporters present, they demanded that he leave because he was campaigning in an area run by the state vaccination programme, which was not permitted.
Ghosh later claimed that Trinamool supporters “attacked” him without provocation, injuring a BJP activist and escorting him away from the scene. “When we meet again, we’ll bring it up with the Election Commission. This is a unique type of election.” He’d like to ask her a question.
Mr. Ghosh, the former state BJP chief who was recently named national vice president of the party, later addressed a press conference and demanded that the Bhabanipur election be postponed.
“Because of the state of law and order in this area, by-elections cannot be held. Consider the consequences for the average voter if a member of Parliament is attacked. I demand that the election be postponed until the situation in Bhabanipur improves…until a free and fair election can be held “He made the remark.
Mr Ghosh stated that he was in danger of losing his life and defended the actions of his security officers. “They would have killed me if they hadn’t done this. My bodyguards made certain that I was able to leave the area on time “He made the remark.
In response to Mr Ghosh’s request to postpone the bypoll, senior Trinamool leader Tapas Roy said the BJP leader is desperate for political points after being “shuffled out” as state party president.
“If his party wants to talk about postponing the byelection, it should start by removing him from the list of top campaigners. After being abruptly removed from his position as state president, he appears to be desperate for some brownie points “Mr Roy made the following remarks.
As a result of the incident, the Congress, which has decided not to run in the byelection, has targeted the Trinamool.
“Is it a sign of a strong democracy when opposition party leaders are attacked in this manner? This is a heinous violation of the rule of law. The EC is in charge of ensuring that elections are free and fair “Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, State Congress President and Lok Sabha Leader, stated.
According to sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, the Election Commission has requested a report from the State Government by 4:00 p.m. According to the findings of the poll panel, the state had not sent its report.
As he canvassed for votes, Arjun Singh, the BJP’s candidate in the constituency, was met with “go back” slogans and dubbed a “bohiragato” (outsider). Mr Singh, a former Trinamool MLA, now represents Barrackpore in the Lok Sabha.
Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader who defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, urged the Election Commission to take action against those responsible. “In this case, the situation is referred to as “nazuk” (fragile). Members of the BJP, on the other hand, are determined to fight until the end and will not give up until victory is achieved “He made the remark.
Madan Mitra, a senior Trinamool leader and MLA, stated that while everyone in the constituency has the right to campaign door to door, they do not have the right to threaten people with a weapon. “The location in question is Bhabanipur, not Godhra or Bhatpara. On September 30, the BJP will be held accountable for its actions “He made a remark about it.
Arjun Singh claimed that when MPs and high-ranking BJP officials were attacked, state and local governments, as well as the police, did nothing.
Trinamool Congress Minister Firhad Hakim accused the BJP of inciting unrest in his quiet middle-class neighbourhood.
“Provocations are being used by the BJP as a last ditch effort, sensing defeat. Ignoring them is the best strategy. Demonstrators oppose them because they incite hatred, spread misinformation, and are hostile to one another.” This is how Mr. Hakim explained things.
According to a Trinamool tweet, Mr Ghosh’s bodyguard brandished firearms in order to frighten onlookers.
“As it turns out, the BJP4Bengal campaign has reached a new low. In broad daylight, how dare someone point a gun at the general public? Do you not have the right to express yourself if you disagree with someone? It’s revolting to witness such flagrant violation of human rights! This endangers the lives of Bhabanipur residents!” The group used Twitter to send out a message.