Kolkata, Nov 26th : .Sougata Roy, a senior leader of Trinamool Congress and MP, stated that the party would not support violence or muscle power in the forthcoming civic poll or other local body elections.
This comment has caused a political controversy. The BJP and other political parties saw Roy’s comments as a deliberate effort to fool the people.
The BJP accused the party that they used force and muscular power during the previous panchayat elections and municipal elections.However, Congress and the CPI-M stated that the party would never reach the ground and would not resort to violence again.
Roy spoke to the media and stated that the party had made a conscious decision not to support violence or muscle power in the coming civic election or any other local body elections.
He stated that if someone from the party violates the decision, he/she will do so at his/her own responsibility and TMC could also withdraw his/her candidature.”
“The party will not tolerate violence or muscle power by its candidates in the upcoming civic elections in West Bengal.This was a conscious decision by the party, and the party will take strong actions against anyone who opposes it.”
He said that the TMC had to pay a heavy price for its violence during the 2018 panchayat elections, as it had sent a wrong message about the party.
“We had to pay a heavy cost (in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections) for it.He said that the 2024 Lok Sabha election is more important to us than these local body elections.
Roy’s comment stirred however the Opposition, accusing the party to resort to violence during the election.
Sukanta Majumdar, president of Bengal BJP, stated that this only shows how elections were conducted under the TMC regime.This proves that violence and looting of votes are not allegations.
“Now they are telling all this because they know the people will reject them.” He added that this was another attempt to fool the people.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, president of West Bengal Congress, welcomed Roy’s statement.However, he wondered if it would percolate to ground level at the TMC.
“Roy is a gentleman.He said that he doubted whether what he stated was the official position of his party, as its top leaders might have something else in their minds.
Sujan Chakraborty, leader of CPM, said that the comment proved that what we had been telling for so long is still very true.They have now admitted it.Do you think the people will trust them? They have lost all trust in the people.They are now trying to save face before civic elections.
sbg/pgh
#Sougata #Roys #violence
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