Murshidabad District Administration Defies Election Commission Directive, No FIR Filed Against TMC MLA
In a significant development from Kolkata, the Murshidabad district administration has failed to comply with a direct order from the Election Commission of India (EC). Despite a clear directive issued on Thursday, the administration did not lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against Farakka Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Manirul Islam by Friday evening. The EC had instructed the Murshidabad District Magistrate, who also serves as the District Election Officer, to file the FIR against Islam and submit a compliance report by 5 PM on the same day.
Allegations of Vandalism and Hate Speech Against the MLA
The controversy stems from two separate incidents involving MLA Manirul Islam. On January 14, a Block Development Officer (BDO) office in Farakka was vandalized, allegedly by TMC protesters. The protesters claimed that citizens were facing harassment during a hearing at the office. CCTV footage and other videos from the scene reportedly showed Islam and his supporters involved in the incident. In response, the BDO filed an FIR against unknown miscreants, leading to the arrest of five individuals who were later granted bail. However, Islam was notably not named in this initial FIR, raising questions about the investigation's thoroughness.
Adding to the controversy, a video surfaced on social media where Islam was purportedly heard making hate speech against the Election Commission. This prompted the EC to take swift action, directing the district administration to register an FIR specifically targeting Islam for his inflammatory remarks.
MLA's Defense and Ongoing Non-Compliance
In a letter addressed to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Jangipur on Friday, Islam attempted to clarify his position. He stated, "I respectfully clarify that the remarks made by me during said public address were neither intended to undermine the authority of the Election Commission nor to influence the electoral process in any improper manner. The statements were made in good faith as a general expression of public opinion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process."
He further added, "I further submit that there was no mala fide intent, provocation, or violation of any statutory provision in my speech. Any interpretation to the contrary would be inadvertent and unintended." Despite this defense, the Election Commission's directive remains unfulfilled, with the district administration's inaction highlighting potential challenges in enforcing electoral codes of conduct.
This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between political figures and electoral authorities in West Bengal, particularly in the lead-up to significant electoral events. The failure to file an FIR against a sitting MLA, despite explicit instructions from the EC, raises concerns about accountability and the enforcement of model code of conduct violations. It also reflects the broader political dynamics in the region, where such confrontations are not uncommon.
As of Friday evening, the situation remains unresolved, with the district administration yet to take concrete action. Observers are closely watching how the Election Commission will respond to this defiance, as it could set a precedent for future interactions between political representatives and electoral oversight bodies in India.
