Suvendu alleges BJP worker threatened by TMC in Kolkata, seeks action by EC

Kolkata: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday alleged that a BJP worker was intimidated and threatened at her residence in South Kolkata by ruling TMC supporters, and demanded immediate action from the Election Commission of India.

In a post on X, Adhikari claimed that BJP worker Bina Das was targeted by a group of "goons" who surrounded her house on late Wednesday evening and harassed her for conducting door-to-door campaigning for the party.

"This is a blatant attempt to stifle the opposition and terrorise women party workers who are standing up against this corrupt regime," Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, said.

He linked the incident to the high voter turnout of nearly 93 per cent recorded in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, claiming the ruling party was "scared" following what he described as an "imminent rout." Adhikari, who is contesting from the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, the seat held by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said a complaint had been filed at Kalighat police station and urged the ECI to take "immediate cognisance" and ensure strict action against the perpetrators.

Adhikari had won from the Nandigram seat in the 2021 assembly elections, defeating Banerjee. She later went to the assembly after winning a bypoll from Bhabanipur. The BJP leader is contesting from Nandigram this time too.

"If the local police remain silent spectators to this hooliganism, we will not sit back," he warned, adding that TMC's threats will not stop change.

The TMC was not immediately available for comment.

Bhabanpur will go to the polls in the second and final phase of voting on April 29. Results will be out on May 4.