Fight between centre, TMC intensifies ahead of final phase polls in Bengal

The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal for questioning in connection with a probe into the cattle smuggling scam. Mandal has been asked to be present at the CBI office in Kolkata on Tuesday. However, the TMC leader ignored the summons, citing kidney ailments.

Kolkata:Just a couple of days before the eighth and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021, controversial Trinamool Congress leader and the party's Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mandal alias 'Kesto' is in the headlines again for multiple reasons.

The political rivalry between the Trinamool Congress and BJP, which has by now taken the shape of the state Vs centre brawl, are all brewing with Mandal as the focal point.

On Monday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Mandal for questioning in connection with the agency’s ongoing probe into the cattle smuggling scam. Mandal was asked to be present at the CBI office in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The chief minister, Mamata Banerjee immediately reacted and advised his ardent follower, Mandal to ignore the CBI summon. "Tell CBI that you will be present only after the polling process is over," the chief minister told Mandal.

Obeying the order of the chief minister, Mandal on Tuesday morning contacted CBI expressing his inability to be personally present at the CBI office for another two weeks. However, as a reason, he stated that his absence from attending will be because of his kidney ailments.

Just hours after Mandal’s intimation reached the CBI Office in Kolkata, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an order for keeping Mandal under strict surveillance starting from 5 PM on Tuesday till 7 AM on Friday.

The commission also ordered that Mandal will be under surveillance of an executive magistrate who will be accompanied by central armed forces personnel and the entire surveillance process will be video-recorded.

The commission also observed that this decision is taken to ensure free and fair polls in Birbhum district which is going for polls in the eighth and last phase on Thursday.

According to an ECI official, the decision was taken after several complaints against Mandal arrived at the commission’s office.

This is not the first time that Mandal will be kept under surveillance before and during the polls. The commission ordered similar surveillance against Mandal both before the 2016 West Bengal assembly polls and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, Mandal has said that he will approach the court on Wednesday against the decision.

He also said that the commission has done its duty by putting him under surveillance.

"Now they will have to chase me wherever I will go. There is no problem for me. There will be a fine game," he said.