Congress approaches EC against Trinamool's 'mafia links'

The Congress on Wednesday approached the Election Commission demanding action against Trinamool Congress candidate Sabyasachi Dutta and his party for alleged links with syndicate mafias.

Dutta is a candidate in the Rajarhat New Town assembly constituency in Kolkata.

In its letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi, the Congress said: "The media has highlighted the role of 'syndicate' in the sudden fall of the flyover and has disclosed that the 'syndicate' is an extortion racket that runs in areas where real estate is witnessing a boom."

"It has also been revealed that unemployed men backed by the ruling party (TMC) use the clout and under the threat of violence, force contractors to buy inferior building material from them at a premium. It is alleged that the contractor used low quality material in construction of the flyover."

The letter said a sting operation by a news channel exposed Sabyasachi Dutta, who is stated to have said that it takes Rs.50-60 lakh to fight the assembly elections and that most of the money comes from syndicates.

It said he also revealed how his party backs syndicates so that the funds could be siphoned back to the party before elections.

Polls in West Bengal will be held in six phases that started on April 4 and will go on till May 5.

The Congress urged the EC to get criminal and electoral offences registered against all people involved with the mafia along with Trinamool members and candidates and cancel their nominations.

"Keeping in view the gravity of the allegations, it would also be appropriate to cancel recognition of TMC under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and take any further action as may be considered appropriate by the Commission," the letter added.