The Mamata All India Trinamool Congress on Tuesday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s October 6 Nandigram by-election candidate Hasirani Rath over alleged discrepancies in her affidavit, saying it raises serious questions, while demanding the cancellation of her nomination.
“Her nomination should be cancelled for providing false information. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the contest following a meeting with West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, prompting it to support the Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. “Let the ECI take the call. “We are yet to receive any complaint in this regard. The Nandigram seat has been among the most important for almost two decades.
In a post on X, the party’s information technology and social media wing said Rath’s affidavit says she is over 60 and claims she cleared her Class 10 in 1965. It added that the school she names received Class 10 approval in 1973. Hours later, Pradhan was arrested in a two-decade-old murder case related to the 2007 anti-land acquisition protests that had catapulted Banerjee into power with Adhikari as her key aide. In 2007, protests broke out in Nandigram after the then Left Front-ruled state government permitted land acquisition for a chemical project, and 14 people were killed in police firing.
BJP leader Sisir Bajoria said if there are any discrepancies, they should file a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI). An official said they are unaware of any discrepancies. The ECI allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the football player symbol for the October 6 bypolls. The rival faction was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the envelope symbol.
Rath is the mother of Chadranath Rath, Adhikari’s personal assistant, who was murdered days before the BJP formed the government after sweeping to power in West Bengal for the first time in May.
