New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday banned a Trinamool Congress legislator from campaigning for the Asansol Lok Sabha bypolls after a viral video saw him threatening rival voters with death.
Pandabeswar MLA Narendra Nath Chakraborty was banned for the violation of the election code of conduct.
The state BJP – the main Opposition in West Bengal – filed a complaint with the poll body Tuesday against Chakraborty, whose constituency comes under Asansol.
The Trinamool candidate from Asansol is former BJP and Congress politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has said the Bengal ruling party will be his final home.
West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said Tuesday that the TMC MLA had openly threatened BJP voters if they came out to vote. “He said he would not take responsibility for anyone’s life if they stepped out of their houses on voting day,” Majumdar said after submitting the complaint.
In its letter to the poll body, the state BJP also mentioned Chakraborty’s criminal past and the fact that he issued the threat from Haripur, which is 90 kilometres from Rampurhat where eight people were burnt alive last week. The BJP has claimed the deaths were political vendetta by the Trinamool.
The bypoll is on 12 April, and results will be declared four days later.
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