BJP writes to ECI seeking to bar Mamata from poll campaigning citing "incitement to violence"

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a comprehensive complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Mamata Banerjee, alleging a "consistent and alarming pattern" of voter intimidation and incitement to violence. The delegation, including senior leaders like Piyush Goyal and Kiren Rijiju, submitted the memorandum on March 30, claiming that Mamata’s recent speeches in North Bengal and other regions pose a serious threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.

The complaint specifically highlights remarks made between March 25 and 26, where the Trinamool supremo reportedly urged citizens to display "I don't support BJP" posters and exhorted women to confront opponents with "whatever household objects" they have. The BJP argues these statements encourage physical confrontation and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. They further linked these speeches to a recent violent incident in Bishnupur, where BJP workers were allegedly attacked by a mob of TMC supporters while campaigning.

The BJP also aimed at TMC MP Mahua Moitra for her comments regarding the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, accusing her of attempting to pit linguistic communities against one another by questioning the contribution of Gujaratis compared to Bengalis and Punjabis. The BJP contends that such utterances violate the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, specifically provisions related to promoting enmity between different regional or linguistic groups and making statements conducive to public mischief.

In its list of demands, the BJP has urged the ECI to debar Mamata Banerjee from participating in the remainder of the election campaign. Additionally, they have requested the immediate filing of FIRs, the deployment of more central forces in vulnerable areas, and the appointment of additional IAS and IPS officers as observers. The party maintains that timely and firm intervention is essential to prevent a further escalation of violence in West Bengal.