The West Bengal BJP on Thursday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, of inciting violence in Nandigram ahead of the May 25 polls.
The accusation came in the wake of a BJP worker's death, which has sparked significant unrest.
BJP's state general secretary and spokesperson, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, claimed at a press conference that the violence was a direct result of provocations by the TMC leadership.
"The violence happened owing to instigation by the Chief Minister and her nephew," Chattopadhyay alleged. Abhishek Banerjee, often considered the second-in-command within the TMC, was specifically named in these accusations.
Nandigram, part of the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, is set to vote on May 25.
TMC leader Rajib Banerjee, however, countered the BJP's claims, asserting that local BJP leaders and workers were responsible for vandalizing the homes of TMC supporters in the area.
Leader of Opposition and BJP's Nandigram MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, visited the affected areas in the Tamluk constituency, further intensifying the political tensions.
Adhikari's visit highlighted the BJP's assertion that the TMC's actions betray a lack of faith in the democratic process.
Chattopadhyay suggested that the violence was a desperate attempt by the TMC to intimidate BJP supporters as the party believes it will sweep the upcoming elections.
"The TMC has understood that all the eight seats up for polls in the sixth phase in West Bengal will go to the BJP," he claimed.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured seven out of the eight seats, with only Ghatal going to the TMC.
The BJP spokesperson also addressed the Chief Minister's recent remarks about the monks of Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Ramakrishna Mission.
Banerjee had alleged that some monks from these institutions were acting on BJP directives, which drew widespread criticism.
Later, she praised these institutions for their philanthropic efforts but maintained her criticism of a few individuals for their political involvement.
Chattopadhyay called on the Election Commission to ensure neutrality among civil administration and police officers to facilitate free and fair elections in the final two phases.
"The Election Commission must take action against any officer found to be biased," he stated, highlighting the relatively peaceful conduct of the elections in the first five phases in a state known for its poll-related violence.
The BJP's charges come just a day after Arunachal Pradesh's Kabak Yano made history by becoming the fifth woman from the state to conquer Mt. Everest, and the first woman from Arunachal's Nyishi tribe to achieve this feat.
Yano's success has been a proud moment for her community and the nation, standing in stark contrast to the turmoil in West Bengal.
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