Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Apr 15: Former Trinamool Congress councillor Nirmal Dutta was arrested in Bidhannagar on Wednesday on charges of allegedly intimidating and attempting to influence voters ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.
The action followed a complaint filed by BJP candidate from Bidhannagar Sharadwat Mukherjee, who approached the Election Commission of India on Tuesday alleging voter intimidation. He also submitted a separate complaint to the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner.
Based on these complaints, police detained Dutta and later arrested him within 24 hours of the allegations being registered.
The controversy stems from a public meeting held in Salt Lake on April 13, where Dutta allegedly made remarks suggesting access to voter identity information. He was quoted as saying, “We will know who the people of the Dattabad area are and where they vote; we have Aadhaar cards, voter cards.” The comments triggered accusations that he was attempting to intimidate voters.
Following the remarks, the BJP lodged formal complaints with both the Election Commission and local police authorities, alleging that the statements amounted to voter intimidation and misuse of personal data.
Dutta, whose wife is a councillor of Ward No. 38 of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, has previously faced allegations of clashes involving BJP workers in the Dattabad area.
He was produced before a Bidhannagar court on Wednesday, which remanded him to 10 days of judicial custody.
The arrest has added further political tension in the State as campaigning intensifies ahead of the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for April 23 and April 29, with Bidhannagar and Kolkata voting in the second phase. Counting of votes will be held on May 4.
The development also comes amid escalating political exchanges in the State, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticising the Election Commission during a rally in Islampur, saying that even if one party leader is arrested, “a hundred more will take their place.”