Campaigning Closed in Tamil Nadu, Half of West Bengal, ECI Changes Police Observer for Nandigram
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 21: The noisy campaigning ended in entire Tamil Nadu and 152 of the 294 constituencies in West Bengal going to the polls on Thursday as the Election Commission on Tuesday replaced the Police Observer for the Nandigram Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, just two days (48 hours) before polling in one of the most closely watched seats of this election.
The poll body’s decision came after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) raised concerns over alleged bias in local policing.
According to a senior official of the Election Commission, Hitesh Choudhury, who had been serving as the police observer for Nandigram, has been removed from the post. He has been replaced by Akhilesh Singh — who will now oversee law and order arrangements in the high-profile constituency.
The development took place a day after the ruling TMC wrote to the police observer alleging that complaints filed by party workers against BJP supporters were not receiving attention from police authorities. “The ruling party had sought immediate intervention from the police observer,” he said, adding that the order to replace the observer was issued shortly after the complaint was received.
The Election Commission has appointed 84 police observers for West Bengal with each assigned multiple constituencies to monitor security and ensure smooth election conduct. The shake-up in Nandigram follows earlier changes made by the poll panel in Malda and Jangipur.
The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has asserted that the poll panel would “leave no stone unturned” to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal. He also laid out a detailed framework to curb malpractices and instil voter confidence. In a message to the officials managing the elections in the state, Kumar said the Election Commission was committed to conducting elections that were “free of fear, violence, intimidation and inducements.” He also stressed a zero-tolerance approach towards electoral malpractices.
Meanwhile, the BJP candidate for Dantan seat in Medinipur district Ajit Kumar Jana was attacked during a bike rally. Preliminary reports suggest other BJP workers were also injured during the incident. The BJP has alleged that the attack was carried out by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters. It is also alleged that the candidate’s hand was broken and several other BJP workers and supporters were also injured in the attack. The candidate’s car and several motorbikes were vandalised in the incident.
Just before the closer of the campaign on Tuesday evening, a large motorcycle rally was organized from Haripur in support of Mr Jana. Eyewitnesses claim that as the rally was proceeding from Sabra towards Mohanpur and reached the Antala area, a group of miscreants suddenly attacked them. It is alleged that these miscreants are affiliated with the Trinamool Congress. The BJP asserts that the procession was attacked with sticks. BJP claims that the procession was attacked with sticks and sharp weapons.
The poll campaigning for the first phase of the assembly election in West Bengal ended on Tuesday. A total of 152 seats will go under the polls in the first phase which will decide the fates of 1478 candidates.
Earlier, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of seeking to “protect infiltrators” and alleged that her “associate” Humayun Kabir wanted to build a Babri Masjid in West Bengal, which the BJP would not allow. Addressing an election rally at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district, he said the West Bengal elections this time were about “freeing Bengal from infiltrators” and corruption.
The senior BJP leader also promised that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be implemented in the State if his party came to power. “We will bring the Uniform Civil Code in Bengal. Some people marry four times. Should that be stopped or not? No one will be able to marry four times,” Mr Shah told the gathering.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that the TMC would return to power in the state for the fourth consecutive term, claiming that “no one wants the BJP to form government.” Addressing a poll rally at Haldia in Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee also urged opposition parties to come together to oust the BJP-led NDA Government from the Centre. “The BJP will not win the elections in West Bengal this time. The Trinamool Congress will again form the government. We will also throw out the BJP from Delhi in 2026 itself,” Ms Banerjee asserted.
In Tamil Nadu where campaigning closed on Tuesday evening, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu invoked Dravidian roots to seek votes for the NDA candidates. Invoking Tamil pride, the TDP chief said he came here to remind the people of the southern state about their future and appealed to them to vote for the National Democratic Alliance candidates.
Addressing a press conference, he said Tamil Nadu was the cradle of Dravidian (South Indian) culture and observed that Tamil and Telugu people were together under the Madras Presidency during the British colonial time before independence. “You are all aware Tamil Nadu is the cradle of Dravidian culture. We are all Dravidians. Historically, if you can go through it, we are (were) all in a combined province during the British period. Chennai was the headquarters. At that time Madras,” Mr Naidu said.
