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The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP accuses Trinamool of ‘booth jam, rigging' in Kaliganj bypoll; voting continues amidst rain
In West Bengal's Kaliganj, one of the five Assembly Constituencies across the country, which went to bye-election on Thursday (June 19, 2025), allegations flew thick and fast. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Ashish Ghosh, alleged that polling officials deliberately marked with ink on his middle finger instead of the customary index finger. 'This was done in a pre-planned manner. Initially, they did not put ink on my finger. Then they did, after I went back for it. But before I could say anything, they put the ink on my middle finger. This was premeditated,' Mr. Ghosh alleged after he cast his vote in a booth at Debgram in Kaliganj. The bye-election to the Kaliganj seat in Nadia district was necessitated after the passing of Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed on February 2. The seat saw a three-pronged contest with Mr. Ahmed's daughter Alifa Ahmed as the Trinamool candidate, Ashish Ghosh for the BJP, and Kalbiluddin Sheikh of the Congress, who fought in alliance with the Left front, in the fray. On Thursday (June 19, 2025), the BJP accused the Trinamool of 'booth capturing' at multiple places in Kaliganj. 'The Trinamool did not allow our polling agents in two booths. I have informed the Election Commission. Booth jam and rigging are part of the Trinamool's culture,' Mr. Ghosh said. However, the Trinamool candidate, Ms. Ahmed, denied such allegations and said the opposition parties do not have 'organisational strength in Kaliganj' and should focus on 'working for the people' instead. Rain mars polling Voting continued on Thursday (June 19, 2025) amidst pouring rain in the constituency. 'I am confident that the people of Kaliganj will stand by our side… However, we are fighting not just against two political entities today but also the adverse weather conditions. It has been raining heavily since morning,' Ms. Ahmed said. While there were no reports of violence, many local people alleged that they could not arrive at their polling booths due to lack of transport, including ferry boats. As of 5 p.m., Election Commission officials pegged the turnout in Kaliganj at nearly 70%. The number is expected to increase as the voting closes. Kaliganj has 2,52,670 electors in total, according to the revised electoral list published by the Election Commission on May 5. A total of 14 companies of central forces had been deployed in the constituency for the bypoll. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari took to social media to accuse the Trinamool Congress of displaying 'regional bias' and an 'anti-Gujarati mindset' in its letter to the Chief Election Commissioner dated June 18, 2025, regarding the selection of a Gujarat-based webcasting agency for polling in the Kaliganj constituency.
India Gazette
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Anti-Gujarati Mindset:" Suvendu Adhikari over TMC's objection to Ahmedabad's webcasting agency for Kaligang bypolls
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 19 (ANI): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday accused the Trinamool Congress of displaying an 'anti-Gujarati mindset' over the latter's objection to the selection of an Ahmedabad-based firm for webcasting services in the Kaliganj Assembly by-election. Referring to a letter by the TMC dated June 18 and addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, Adhikari said that raising concerns solely based on the agency's origin reveals regional bias. In a post on X, the West Bengal Leader of Opposition emphasised that Gujarat is an integral part of India and firms from any state have the legal right to participate in tenders nationwide. 'This letter from the All India Trinamool Congress, dated June 18, 2025, to the Chief Election Commissioner regarding the selection of a webcasting agency for the 80-Kaligang Assembly Constituency bye-election explicitly reveals an anti-Gujarati mindset. Expressing concern over the selection of an agency from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for webcasting services and highlighting the agency's Ahmedabad origin, implies a regional bias against Gujarati entities, who can lawfully participate in any Tender process and being from Gujarat does not bar them as Gujarat is very much a part of India,' Adhikari said. 'The firm must have been selected after fulfilling all parameters, but are being targeted in the context of TMC's broader political rivalry with people and entities whom they conveniently label as 'outsiders' when it suits them,' he said. He alleged further that when it comes to pick and chose between eligible, deserving and efficient Bengali Officers, the same TMC government ignores them and search for 'Outsiders' who would act like puppets. 'Atri Bhattacharya; IAS (1989 batch) is retiring in April 2026, Manoj Pant; IAS (1991 batch) from Uttarakhand, is retiring in June 2025. Why were Atri Bhattacharya and Subrata Gupta, IAS (1990 batch) overlooked and Manoj Pant was made Chief Secretary, despite being junior to two eligible Bengali Officers? Why extension proposal of Manoj Pant has been sent, though even now Atri Bhattacharya can be posted as Chief Secretary since he still has 10 months of service left?' Adhikari asked. Meanwhile, polling for the Kaligang assembly constituency in West Bengal began on Thursday morning. The results are scheduled to be announced on June 23. (ANI)
