‘Just spreading rumours’: BJP dismisses TMC’s ballot box ‘tampering’ charges amid ongoing protests | India News
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday dismissed allegations of postal ballot box tampering. Alleged ‘active collusion’ with BJP Election Commission “Opening the ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders”, BJP leader Tapas Roy said the ruling party leaders were “spreading rumours” as they were “laying the groundwork for their defeat” in the assembly elections.Rai reached the Netaji Indoor Stadium while TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja protested the allegations. “We will depute two persons to look after the strongroom…They (TMC) are just spreading rumors as they are laying the groundwork for their defeat…Three-tier security is in place,” he told reporters, as quoted by ANI.“They can’t do it. They can’t gather in front of the strongroom. No protest or sloganeering should be held in front of the strong room. it’s wrong Why Kolkata Police gave permission?…They (TMC) are alleging any manipulation against us? We both came here after hearing this. We came when we were asked to visit here,” he added.This came as TMC leader Shashi Panja accused BJP leaders of creating a ruckus, saying the protests were peaceful before their arrival. “We sat on dharna peacefully…BJP leaders created ruckus here,” he said.TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also leveled allegations against the BJP, questioning why he and others were not allowed to enter while Roy was present. “We were removed, but Tapas Da went in. What do you call it? It’s like their own party office. This agent central police with BJP people… It’s not in the hands of the Calcutta police; even the Calcutta police personnel are now employed by the Election Commission. Consequently us... Hey, if he’s a candidate, so are we. Would you remove a candidate?” he said“We were there peacefully. They came here with the intention of stealing; they were working here secretly, opening the strongroom without informing anyone before our men arrived. After Dr. Panja, me and our team arrived, we intervened and took notice of the matter. Still we were not allowed to enter. Later when we were sitting peacefully, and our work and discussion was going on, the BJP came and created trouble. Why is BJP so jealous? he added.Matters escalated when the TMC leveled its allegation against the BJP, calling it “murder of democracy in public”.In a post on X, the group also shared a video and described the alleged “opening of ballot boxes” as massive electoral fraud. “Disturbing is the killing of democracy in broad daylight. CCTV footage revealed how @BJP4India, in active collusion with @ECISVEEP, is opening ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders. This is a gross electoral fraud perpetrated openly with the full knowledge and protection of the Election Commission,” the party said.The party also alleged that the BJP was trying “every dirty trick” to defeat the assembly elections and in desperation was “resorting to rigging the EVMs”. “They have tried every dirty trick, name erasure, voter intimidation, central force terror, cash flood, and failed miserably. Now, in sheer desperation, they have resorted to tampering with EVMs. But Bengal is not Maharashtra, Delhi or Bihar. We will not sit idly by and watch them rob our democracy,” it said.The development comes a day after the second and final phase of polling in West Bengal, where 92.67 percent voters cast their ballots. Counting of votes is scheduled on May 4.
