In a shocking incident, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal on Sunday made an appeal to the Election Commission (EC) officials to let him rig the polls and allow his people to “manage” 500-600 votes per booth, reported Times Now.
According to the reports, Anubrata Mondal speaking at a rally stated that the EC officials can take help from TMC block presidents while discharging their duty and the party will extend its full support but in exchange, his party workers should also be allowed to do “their jobs.”
#May23WithTimesNow | TMC neta caught on CAM asking polling officers to let his leaders manage at least 500-600 votes per booth. | LISTEN IN for details. pic.twitter.com/cC9KZsGFgz
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Birbhum district Trinamool chief Anubrata Mondal was addressing a group of teachers most of whom will be deployed for election duty. “This is a very important election and everyone has to be responsible. And I request all the Presiding officers to make way for TMC to register poll 500-600 votes with folded hands,” Mondal said.
The attempt by the TMC leaders to influence the elections has left the opposition parties raging. The BJP has written a letter to the EC for his speech. The BJP and the CPM said they would lodge complaints with the Election Commission on Monday.
However, Mondal later attempted to undo the damage he had caused by his statements. “I actually meant mock votes when I said ‘polled votes’. I have requested them (teachers) to allow us to cast 500-600 mock votes,” said Mondal.
District magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said, “I have heard about the speech. I will take appropriate action after going through the video of the speech.”
The Trinamool Congress is notoriously known for electoral violence and other illegalities on the day of the elections. Last year, TMC had won 20,000 seats uncontested in West Bengal Panchayat elections amidst the allegations that the party which fielded its candidates on all rural seats, had prevented the filing of nominations by resorting to violence. The BJP had moved the Supreme Court to interfere in the matter of its party workers not being allowed to file nominations for the Panchayat elections.
Fearing serious violence and electoral irregularities in the West Bengal, the Election Commission of India decided to hold the elections in the state in seven phases starting from April 11 to May 19. The results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be declared on May 23
