Kolkata : The Bhabanipur Assembly Bypolls nearing, the campaign at South Kolkata constituency witnessed a mad rush. On Monday, after BJP workers alleged party leader Dilip Ghosh was attacked during the campaign. His security personnel were seen pointing their guns in the air to disperse the crowd.
BJP had planned a campaign at Bhabanipur where Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee is seeking re-election after she had lost to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in the West Bengal assembly elections.
As Dilip Ghosh was campaigning at Bhabanipur Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers gathered at a distance and started protesting. They rose slogans against the opposition party. BJP workers and Dilip Ghosh said that he was attacked by the TMC workers who also chanted slogans against him.
Videos of campaign show that Dilip Ghosh was surrounded by protesters chanting slogans while his security personnel struggle to protect him. His security personnel are seen pulling out guns in the air to disperse the crowd and protect Ghosh.
#BJP leader #DilipGhosh and his supporters attacked while campaigning at Jadu Babu Bazar under #Bhawanipore. Central Security in charge of #DilipGhosh then brandished service revolver to contain the crowd. pic.twitter.com/5532kr19tK
— Sonu Kanojia (@NNsonukanojia) September 27, 2021
Speaking with local media Ghosh said that he was kicked and punched by the TMC workers protesting there. He said, “Look this is the situation of West Bengal. They will not allow anyone to campaign even. I was pushed and beaten because I came here to campaign in favour of our candidate. There is no democracy in the state. We shall give a formal complaint”.
State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar said, “We touch the feet of an aged person. This is the culture of Bengal. Forget about anything. See the age of Dilip Ghosh. He is being kicked!
“Is it the culture of the state? I have not learnt these things. When Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee go to Delhi we can also block his way and give ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan. Have we done this?
“They are not only killing democracy; they are destroying the culture of the state. The people of Bengal will throw away this proud woman.”
They have raised this issue at the Assembly and asked to change the date of elections for the seat of Bhabanipur.
On the other side of the coin, TMC leader Madan Mitra spoke with local media and said he got information stating that Dilip Ghosh and other leaders were entering the residences of Bhabanipur voters and threatening them.
Today is the last day of campaigning in Bhabanipur. The bypoll will be held on September 30 along with the elections to Samserganj and Jangipur seats in Murshidabad district where polling could not be held during the eight-phase assembly election held earlier this year.
Banerjee, a resident of Bhabanipur, needs to win in order to hold on to her office. She has contested from Bhabanipur in the past two assembly elections since 2011.
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