Suvendu Adhikari Wants Mamata Banerjee’s Nandigram Nomination Cancelled

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Monday demanded the cancellation of the nomination of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram in East Midnapore citing reason that she hid six cases filed against her by the Assam police and the CBI.

Speaking to the media persons, Adhikari said, “She hid facts and suppressed police cases against her while filing her nominations from Nandigram. I have informed the Election Commission and demanded that they should look into the matter urgently.”

He said, “I have full faith in the EC that the poll body will take necessary actions in this matter. There are six cases and one CBI case which were suppressed by her.” It was learnt that a letter of complaint was submitted to the EC by Adhikari’s election agent Meghnad Pal.

In a letter to the EC, Adhikari, mentioned, “I beg to object to the nomination/ declaration filed by Smt. Mamata Banerjee (“Candidate”), the candidate set up by All India Trinamool Congress Party for 210 Nandigram A.C. for the election to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal 2021, on the ground that the Candidate has failed to disclose in paragraph 5(ii) particulars of the following pending criminal proceedings against her”.

The criminal proceedings hidden by Banerjee which Suvendu mentioned in his letter are: Case no. – 286/2018 under sections 20B, 153A and 198 of IPC at Geeta Nagar Police Station, Assam, Case no. – 466/2018 under sections 120B, 153A, 294, 298 and 506 of IPC at Pan Bazar Police Station, Assam, Case no. – 288/2018 under sections 121, 153A of IPC at Jagiroad Police Station, Assam, Case no. – 832/2018 under sections 120B and 153A of IPC at North Lakhimpur Sadar Police Station, Assam and Case no. – 177/2018) under sections 353, 323 and 338 of IPC at Udharbond Police Station in Assam”.

Adhikari also raised allegations against her for suppressing a CBI case (Case No.RC 01020008A0023/2008 registered by CBI, Nizam Palace, Kolkata). “Under the circumstances, we humbly pray that the nomination of the Candidate Smt. Mamata Banerjee be forthwith rejected,” his letter reads.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Such allegations are clearly hinting that he is going to lose the Nandigram seat with a huge margin. Let the EC respond to it. We will give a proper reply against her allegations.”

On January 18, Mamata played a masterstroke after she announced a contest from Nandigram in the upcoming Assembly poll in 2021.

Recently, BJP announced Suvendu Adhikari’s name from Nandigram to contest against Mamata.

Nandigram is the prestige battle for Mamata Banerjee because she demolished the Left Front rule in Bengal while riding the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movements, which have left the ‘Left’ insignificant in the state’s politics.

The elections in West Bengal will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. The results will be declared on May 2. The polling in Nandigram will be held on April 1 and it is going to be ‘mother of all battles’.

Meanwhile, reports are pouring in that the CBI case against Banerjee which Adhikari has mentioned in his letter to EC is a different person with the same name. Taking a strong note of the incident, the Trinamool Congress has decided to take up the matter with the EC.

Hitting out at Adhikari for spreading ‘misinformation’, Ghosh said, “It is a highly condemnable act. The party will take adequate steps into the matter.”