New Delhi, March 30 The BJP approached the Election Commission on Monday, alleging that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) are "intimidating" voters to discourage them from voting for the saffron party in the upcoming assembly elections.
Submitting a petition in this regard, the BJP delegation urged the Election Commission (EC) to take necessary action to ensure that a free and fair election is conducted in the state.
Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal, and Sukanta Majumdar, along with BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni, were part of the delegation.
"While the assembly elections are scheduled to be held in four states and one Union territory, Mamata Banerjee has created havoc to deprive voters of their right to vote in West Bengal and hijack the election," Rijiju told reporters after the meeting.
Banerjee, her ministers, and TMC workers are allegedly threatening and intimidating people to discourage them from voting in favour of the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections, he said.
"The chief minister is herself threatening voters... We had a detailed discussion on this matter with the Election Commission officials," the minister added.
Rijiju said that the EC gave a "positive response" to the delegation and asserted that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure a free and fair election in West Bengal.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.
