With Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, political leaders getting desperate to woo voters are resorting to all kind of strategies. In one such shocking incident, a pradhan of a Trinamool-ruled panchayat in South 24 Parganas district was caught on camera distributing cheques to farmers and demanding votes for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNPtuqn-rsQ&w=644&h=362]
Modassur Hossain, the Trinamool pradhan, also threatened the farmers with dire consequences if they do not vote for his party.
While caught distributing cheques ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 to the farmers, the leader was heard saying that 600 families will be getting these cheques. He went on to say that these cheques belong to didi (Mamata Banerjee) and so, “you have to vote for us [Trinamool Congress] in the Lok Sabha election 2019.”
Hossain threatened the poor farmers of taking away the cheques if they did not vote for Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming elections.
This audacious act is a major violation of the model code of conduct. What is further appalling is that the minister while speaking to India Today, admitted that he did distribute cheques to the villagers for votes. “We are giving cheques and hence, we will ask for votes as well. They will have to vote for us. What is wrong with it?”
According to the video that is making the rounds, Hossain is seen threatening the people to vote for actress turned politician Mimi Chakraborty, who is contesting from Jadavpur constituency on TMC ticket, or else their voter ids would be snatched.
Threatening to bar people from welfare schemes if voted out of power, Hasan said, “Mrityur pore je 2 lokkho taka pawar kotha, seita aar pabe na. kheyal thake jen, Taile voteta amader dite hobe… amader candidate tomara protekei jaano. (The amount of Rs 2 Lakh you were supposed to get after the demise of your family member, you will not get. Mind it. That is why you will have to vote for us. You know our candidate very well).”
The party which is usually quick to take a dig at its political rivals have not come up with any clarifications yet. The party is probably getting desperate as there are many ministers recently who have jumped ships to join the BJP just before the elections. In this rashness, Trinamool leaders have during several occasions resorted to severe violence against their political rivals.
Lok Sabha elections 2019 will take place in seven phases in West Bengal, beginning from April 11 and would conclude on May 19. The counting of votes and results would be announced on May 23.
