BJP, TMC engage in political slugfest over rural polls in WB

The Trinamool Congress and the BJP today engaged in a bitter political slugfest over opposition parties alleging that the TMC prevented their candidates from filing nominations for the panchayat polls in West Bengal due in May.

The BJP, Left Front and Congress alleged that the ruling TMC unleashed a reign of terror in various parts of the state and prevented opposition candidates from filing nominations.

The Trinamool Congress termed the allegations "baseless".

BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu told newsmen at Suri in Birbhum district there was information that the TMC had "engaged people having links with the banned Students Islamist Movement of India and terror outfit Islamic State to prevent its members from filing nominations".

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said the party will move the Supreme Court to ensure free, fair and peaceful rural polls.

Workers of the BJP and the Congress demonstrated outside the State Election Commission office here.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha alleged, "The TMC is afraid of holding free and fair polls. They are trying to stop our candidates from filing nominations."
He said, "The BJP is resorting to falsehood... that their candidates are being prevented from filing nominations. It is using a threatening language."
He said, "We will also meet the governor, possibly tomorrow and tell him that those indulging in violence and rioting are claiming innocence and blaming others."
Tripathi told PTI, "The governor is the guardian of the people of the state and he can take note of the events happening in the state."