Trinamool leader caught on camera threatening polling officer in Bengal

Trinamool Congress candidate Rabindra Nath Ghosh was on Thursday allegedly caught on camera while threatening a polling officer inside a booth during the sixth and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.

Taking cognizance of the media report, the Election Commission has sought a report from the district administration.

In a video broadcast by a TV channel, Ghosh is seen entering a polling booth in Cooch Behar's Natabari constituency, from where he is contesting, and verbally intimidating the official.

"You are acting as a CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) tout; you are here to indulge in touting for the CPI-M?" Ghosh is heard saying and asking the official's name and where he was employed.

As the official says he is posted at a primary school, Ghosh retorts: "Oh, primary school! that will serve me better."

He then moved out of the booth and while boarding his car, he is seen threatening a polling agent for being a "CPI-M tout".

Condemning Ghosh's act, the opposition demanded his immediate arrest.

"The Election Commission should immediately take action in the matter and (Rabindra Nath) Ghosh should be immediately arrested," said Revolutionary Socialist Party leader Ashok Ghosh.

Another Trinamool leader Sonali Guha -- who is the assembly deputy speaker -- was allegedly caught on camera while talking over phone to "bat and drive away a CPI-M agent" from a booth in her constituency Satgachhia in South 24 Parganas.

--IANS

and/ssp/tsb/bg