Mamata claims Trinamool workers may face arrests ahead of WB polls

Mamata Banerjee alleged selective targeting of Trinamool Congress workers ahead of West Bengal polls, accusing central agencies and the Election Commission of India of bias, while claiming attempts to influence arrests, EVM handling, and campaign operations

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed apprehension that several Trinamool Congress workers will be selectively arrested before the two-phase Assembly elections in the state later this month.

“They have planned to arrest many. I have got the list. I will fight inch by inch. They have targeted only Trinamool Congress workers. A leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting from Birbhum district. He earned crores of rupees from coal smuggling. I am not mentioning his name out of politeness. BJP is a party of miscreants,” the Chief Minister said while addressing a campaign rally at Murarai in Birbhum district on Monday afternoon.

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Although she did not directly name anyone, her remarks were clearly aimed at the Election Commission of India (ECI), as the Trinamool Congress had earlier filed a petition at the Calcutta High Court apprehending the arrest of 800 party workers before the polls, allegedly following instructions from the ECI.

Without naming the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which has been operating as the Trinamool Congress’ poll strategy agency for the last few years, the Chief Minister alleged that the BJP and the Union government, through central agencies, were also trying to make that agency inactive in West Bengal.

“You have so many agencies working for you. I have just one. You are still asking it to go away from West Bengal. You should feel ashamed,” the Chief Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, she also alleged that central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel deployed in West Bengal for the elections have been assigned the task of manipulating electronic voting machines (EVMs).

“I have definite information on this. Those who will be present during the counting should keep a watch on this. If someone gets 100, they will record five in the computer. So, as long as the votes are not added to the computer, no one should give up. You will have to fight. The battle must be won,” the Chief Minister said.