These days, the politics of West Bengal is in turmoil over a decision of the Election Commission. The Congress party has launched a direct attack on the Election Commission over the timing of banning the use of the election symbol and name of Trinamool Congress (TMC). State Congress President Subhankar Sarkar has alleged that the Commission has taken this decision as part of a well-planned conspiracy and with deliberate delay, so as to influence the opposition parties and the election process.
The decision came after the nomination process was over
Subhankar Sarkar said in a press conference that he was extremely surprised to see that the Election Commission announced this decision just a day after the process of scrutiny of nomination papers for Rejinagar and Nandigram by-elections was completed. If the Commission had to take any action, it should have been done long ago. Putting a stop right after the nomination process is over raises serious questions on the intentions behind this entire decision and is not a good sign for democracy at all.
He further said that political competition and ideological battles are part of democracy and will always continue. If any party or leader has to be defeated, it will be defeated politically among the public and not through such decisions. The conscious people of West Bengal have the power to defeat or defeat anyone politically; there is no need for the support of any organization for this.
Targeted at BJP, called Commission a puppet
The Congress State President made a very sharp attack on the Election Commission and said that it seems as if the Commission is no longer an independent institution but is working like an organization of BJP. He alleged that through the Commission, an attempt is being made to weaken or eliminate any elected or established political party, which is very dangerous for the parliamentary democracy of the country.
""Such a partisan attitude of the Election Commission is weakening the basic foundation of democracy. We strongly condemn such action. Our political struggle will continue, but this does not mean that the Commission should start such an exercise at the behest of BJP." — Subhankar Sarkar, West Bengal Congress President"
Mamata Banerjee faction gets 'football player' symbol
It is noteworthy that the Election Commission on Friday allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and 'football player' election symbol to the Trinamool faction led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the upcoming by-elections. At the same time, the other faction of TMC i.e. Arup Roy has been given the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and 'Envelope' election symbol. The Commission has made it clear that during the by-elections to be held on Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats of West Bengal, both the groups will not be able to use the name of the original TMC and the traditional election symbol of 'flower and grass'.
Congress's opposition to TMC will continue
Subhankar Sarkar also clarified that questioning this decision of the Election Commission does not at all mean that the Congress Party's political opposition with TMC is over. He alleged that Trinamool Congress has been directly responsible for the murder of Congress workers in Bengal, illegal occupation of party offices and gross misgovernance in the state. Congress will continue its fight for the rights of the people of the state with full force, from the streets to the House.
