BJP distributing coupons to purchase votes: Trinamool to ECI

Trinamool Congress has alleged that BJP is distributing coupons to lure the voters to purchase votes. The ruling party has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) on this matter and requested it to take action.

Kolkata (West Bengal):Just three days before the fourth phase of West Bengal Elections 2021, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that the BJP is distributing coupons to lure voters to purchase votes. The TMC has also approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) on this matter and requested the latter to take appropriate action in this regard, TMC Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy told media persons here on Tuesday.

“Since April 1, cash coupons were distributed among people asking them to attend the Prime Minister’s rally and vote for BJP. The BJP activists are moving door to door to distribute these cash coupons. Those who will attend the Prime Minister’s rally and vote for BJP will be rewarded with Rs 1,000. We wonder how the ECI is unaware of this development. We have the commission and requested them to take appropriate action,” he said.

Mentioning the huge gathering at the Prime Minister’s rallies, Roy said while the rallies of other BJP leaders are empty there are impressive crowds in the Prime Minister’s rallies. “Actually, cash is being distributed to prevent the Prime Minister’s face-loss. Such things are unthinkable in West Bengal. So we are demanding that such things should be stopped,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, he also alleged that a central armed forces jawan had molested a minor girl. “We have informed the commission on this matter as well. But we have no knowledge whether the jawan concerned has been arrested or not. He should be booked under POCSO Act and arrested,” Roy said.

It is learnt that on Tuesday while the CPI(M) candidate from Raidighi in South 24 Parganas district, Kanti Ganguly, went for a booth visit in that constituency. Tension mounted in the area soon after Ganguly reached the area, where the Prime Minister attended a rally on April 1. Ganguly also alleged that cash coupons were distributed in that rally. “We have also informed the ECI on this matter and requested them to take appropriate steps,” Ganguly said.

Meanwhile, BJP’s state vice president Jaiprakash Majumdar rubbished the allegations. “This is nothing but a ploy by the TMC. We also sought a report from our Mathurapur administrative state president in this matter. But there was no such coupon distribution,” he said.