Kolkata, March 23 – The BJP announced on Monday that it would file a complaint with the Election Commission regarding alleged violations by Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Shatrughan Sinha, specifically his use of a vehicle with a blue beacon while campaigning for the Assembly elections in the West Burdwan district of West Bengal.
The controversy arose when Sinha, as a Member of Parliament, was entitled to a vehicle with a blue beacon. On Sunday, he arrived at a campaign event in support of Trinamool candidate Hareram Singh in the Jamuria constituency of West Burdwan in a car with a blue beacon and a placard identifying him as “Member of Parliament, Asansol,” along with the Ashoka Pillar emblem.
A meeting had been organized in support of Hareram, and Sinha arrived at the venue in his blue-beaconed vehicle. The car's front bore the inscription 'Member of Parliament, Asansol,' accompanied by the Ashoka Pillar emblem. However, questions have now been raised about whether it is permissible to use a vehicle with a blue beacon during a party candidate's campaign after the election schedule has been officially announced. The BJP has objected to this. Bijan Mukherjee, the BJP candidate for Jamuria, has formally accused Shatrughan Sinha of violating the Model Code of Conduct.
BJP candidate Bijan Mukherjee stated that he intends to take this matter to the Election Commission and, if necessary, even to the courts. He said, "It seems the sole purpose of the TMC government is to create new laws. To the best of my understanding, once the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect, no one is permitted to travel in a vehicle fitted with a blue beacon or the Ashoka Pillar. This incident proves that the Trinamool government shows utter disregard for rules and regulations."
Shatrughan Sinha, however, dismissed the allegations. He told media persons, "No beacon light was installed specifically for this occasion; it was already there. I did not install anything myself. Furthermore, the light was not switched on. I do not engage in such practices. I am neither a seasonal politician nor a career professional politician in that sense. I am a gentleman. I abide by the law. I have not done nor will I ever do anything that could cause offense or hurt anyone's sentiments."
It was learned that upon concluding his campaign and re-entering his vehicle, the blue beacon light was no longer visible on the car. Reports suggest that as soon as the controversy began, he instructed his personal assistant to remove the blue beacon from the vehicle. However, the placard on the front of the car bearing the inscription 'Member of Parliament' alongside the Ashoka Pillar emblem -- remained in place.
The BJP has alleged that the use of a blue beacon on the vehicle was a deliberate attempt to exert influence over the general public. Bijan refuses to dismiss this as a trivial incident. He asserted, "An incident is an incident, regardless of its scale. One cannot simply overlook a minor transgression today while waiting for a major one to occur tomorrow; that is simply not how things work. If an MP -- a lawmaker himself -- engages in such conduct, what kind of example does he set for others to follow? He is an educated individual; he committed this error fully aware of the implications."