Kolkata, April 6 – A first information report (FIR) has been filed against Trinamool Congress MLA Ratna Chatterjee, who is also the party's candidate in this election, over an incident of vandalism at a local office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Behala (Paschim) Assembly constituency in the southern outskirts of Kolkata.
The FIR was registered following instructions from the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is now responsible for general and police administration in West Bengal, amidst the crucial two-phase Assembly elections in the state later this month. This is happening under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), confirmed an official from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
The West Bengal unit of the BJP had earlier complained to the ECI that a group of Trinamool Congress supporters, led by Chatterjee, launched an unprovoked attack at a local BJP office in Behala (Paschim) on Sunday night. This led to acute tension in the area until early Monday morning.
There were clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters during the incident. The BJP candidate from the Behala (Paschim) Assembly constituency, Dr. Indranil Khan, was also present at the scene. Later, under his leadership, the BJP's supporters also staged protests in front of the local Parnasree Police Station and filed a formal complaint against Chatterjee.
The BJP also brought the matter to the attention of the CEO's office and the Commission, and an FIR was filed against Chatterjee following the ECI's instructions.
However, Chatterjee has denied the allegations and stated that the tension arose because BJP supporters tore down posters and decorations of the Trinamool Congress and destroyed them. She has also filed a counter-complaint against the BJP at the Parnasree Police Station.
Although Chatterjee is the outgoing Trinamool Congress legislator from the adjacent Behala (Purba) constituency, the party nominated her for the Behala (Paschim) seat this time, where the former five-time party legislator and former Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee, previously held office.
This time, Trinamool Congress denied him re-nomination due to his involvement in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case, for which he was in jail for over three years and is currently out on bail.