TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Exposes 'Dead' Voters in Cooch Behar Rally
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee delivered a fiery speech at a public rally in Cooch Behar on Tuesday. He framed the upcoming electoral battle as a direct confrontation between the BJP and the people of Bengal. Banerjee urged voters to ensure a complete defeat for the BJP across the district.
Parading Voters Declared 'Dead' by Election Commission
In a dramatic moment, Abhishek Banerjee presented nine individuals to the crowd at the Kadamtala rally. He identified them as Ashwini Adhikari, Shivani Adhikari, Kajima Khatun, Aliman Bewa, Mukul Dev Karmakar, Murshid Alam, Abujar Miya, Ajijar Rahman, and Tapan Burma.
"Can you see all of them?" Banerjee asked the audience. "They were all born in Cooch Behar. They are all from this district. The Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar declared them dead. Their names were deleted from the electoral rolls. Will the people not respond to such injustice?"
The Trinamool leader claimed that nearly 3.5 lakh voters in Cooch Behar district faced scrutiny under the label of "logical discrepancies." He branded the Special Summary Revision (SIR) exercise as 'vote-bandi' or vote capture.
Accusations Against BJP and the Central Government
Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government. He accused the Centre of trying to silence Bengal through a dual strategy.
- Blocking developmental funds for the state.
- Attempting to strip people of their voting rights simultaneously.
Targeting the Chief Election Commissioner directly, the Diamond Harbour MP reminded the public that elected representatives remain accountable to voters. Nominated officials, he implied, do not share the same level of accountability.
"The BJP has no moral right to govern if voters are branded illegal," Banerjee declared.
Endorsement of BJP Leader's Criticism and Local Promises
In a notable move, Banerjee endorsed recent remarks by Rajbanshi leader and BJP Rajya Sabha member Anant Maharaj. Maharaj had accused his own party of targeting indigenous communities. Banerjee used this to bolster his argument against the BJP.
The MP accused the BJP of failing to deliver on multiple promises made to Cooch Behar since 2014. These unfulfilled pledges included infrastructure projects and cultural initiatives. He stated the district faced neglect and humiliation after BJP representatives won elections.
Announcement of State Development Projects
Shifting focus to state government initiatives, Banerjee made a significant announcement. He revealed that nearly Rs 350 crore had been allocated for new roads under the Pathashree and Rastashree schemes. Work on these projects is expected to begin shortly.
Banerjee pledged that the Trinamool Congress would take its political battle to Delhi. He promised to personally oversee the development of Cooch Behar district.
Call to Action and Historical Parallel
Banerjee issued a direct call to Trinamool party workers. He instructed them to ensure every person who received an SIR notice finds their name on the final voter list.
Drawing a powerful parallel, the MP reminded people of the demonetisation exercise. "People are once again being made to stand in queues," he said. "This time, they must queue to defend their fundamental right to vote."
Election Commission Seeks Report on Allegations
Following the rally, Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal, Manoj Agarwal, took notice of the serious allegations. He asked for a detailed report from the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar. The report must address Abhishek Banerjee's claims about the nine individuals shown as deceased in Election Commission records.
The political temperature in Cooch Behar continues to rise as election officials investigate these charges of voter list manipulation.
