EC Replaces Police Observer in Nandigram Just Before Polling
In a significant move, the Election Commission (EC) has replaced the police observer in the high-stakes Nandigram assembly constituency, located in West Bengal, merely 48 hours before polling is scheduled to begin on April 23. The EC directed Hitesh Choudhary, an IPS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, to leave East Midnapore and report to the CEO office in Kolkata, appointing Akhilesh Singh of the Assam cadre in his place. The order did not provide any specific reason for this sudden change, leaving room for speculation and political reactions.
Mamata Banerjee Accuses Central Agencies of Harassment
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a rally in Haldia, strongly criticized the EC's decision, alleging that Choudhary was moved out for working "impartially" and accused central agencies of engaging in harassment tactics in Nandigram. She highlighted historical tensions, noting that "people of Nandigram did not vote for you last time either; even now the case is pending in court." Banerjee further claimed she could have retaliated but chose not to, emphasizing her focus on being elected from Bhowanipore without applying pressure.
In her speech, she accused the BJP of leveraging state machinery, stating, "I have never seen police working in favour of BJP like this—they are working one-sidedly. They have changed all our officers and brought in their own people." She also referenced notices sent by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to 40 people in Nandigram, questioning the motives behind such actions and calling for accountability from BJP members instead.
Trinamool Lodges Formal Complaint with EC
Following these allegations, the Trinamool Congress lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, accusing the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Nandigram police station and other personnel of bias. The complaint detailed nine instances where allegations from Trinamool members—including criminal intimidation, assault, and attempted murder—were either ignored or diluted by police. In contrast, it cited five FIRs filed by BJP leaders that allegedly led to prompt police action against Trinamool workers, disrupting their campaign activities.
The party asserted that its workers were being "hounded" and faced unequal treatment, undermining the fairness of the electoral process. This complaint adds to the growing tensions in the region as polling approaches.
Arrest of Trinamool Leader and Prohibitory Orders
Amidst these developments, Sheikh Habibullah Rahman, the Trinamool chief of Mohammadpur gram panchayat, was arrested on charges of distributing cash to voters. Rahman, who is the son-in-law of Sk Sufian, was reportedly caught by BJP workers, with a viral video showing him stating, "Where is the money? I have come for election campaigning." While Trinamool labeled the arrest as politically motivated, police officials maintained it was based on a formal complaint. Rahman was scheduled to appear before the Haldia sub-divisional court on Tuesday.
In preparation for the polling, District Magistrate Niranjan Kumar imposed prohibitory orders across East Midnapore. These measures include:
- Banning all political meetings and gatherings.
- Sealing borders with the neighboring state of Odisha to prevent unauthorized movement.
- Declaring a 100-meter radius around polling stations as a sanitized zone to ensure security and order.
These steps aim to maintain peace and integrity during the election process, though they come against a backdrop of heightened political rivalry and allegations of misconduct.
