Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 18 : Day before West Bengal's Coochbehar constituency is all set to go to Lok Sabha polls on Friday, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) filed a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the constituency, Nisith Pramanik for allegedly "illegally controlling and using" the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Coochbehar.
The TMC has also complaint against Pramanik, who is also the Minister of State of the Ministry of Home Affairs for storing firearms and housing goons or miscreants at his personal residence.
"This is to bring to your attention that we have received credible information that Shri Nishith Pramanik is using his office, as the Minister of State (Ministry of Home Affairs), to control the CRPF personnel deployed in Coochbehar Parliamentary Constituency and using them for his illegal biddings to tip the scales of the ensuing elections in his favour and that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," the AITC mentioned in its letter.
The AITC claimed that Pramanik has absolute control over the CRPF's operations being the Minister of State for the Union Home Ministry.
"Being the Minister of State for the Union Home Ministry, under which CRPF personnel function, he has absolute control, access and influence over their operations. He has ensured that such CRPF personnel are strategically posted in such areas which would allow him to control the outcome of the elections," the letter stated.
The AITC has also claimed that Pramanik has allowed unknown miscreants to camp at his personal residence in Coochbehar.
"It has also come to our attention that Shri Nisith Pramanik has allowed unknown miscreants to camp at his personal residence situated at Kharija Baladanga, P.O. Bhetaguri, P.S. Dinhata, Dist. Coochbehar 736134. These unknown anti-social elements are not electors of Coochbehar Parliamentary Constituency and hence, have no business whatsoever to remain present there," the letter stated.
"We have also gathered information that these men are also keeping firearms at Shri Pramink's home at would be used to terrorize the local electorate and coerce them to vote in favour of BJP. We have received such information as these goons have been brandishing their weapons during the silent period and threatening members and workers of All India Trinamool Congress with dire consequences," it added.
The Trinamool Congress has asked the Election Commission to issue necessary orders or directions to carry out a search and seizure operation at Pramanik's residence and to arrest all such miscreants illegally camping at his residence.
The party has also asked the Election Commission to issue necessary orders or directions to ensure that no outsider apart from the electors of Coochbehar are camping in the constituency and to issue necessary order to ensure that CRPF forces are replaced by forces from other states.
Polling in the 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal will be held across all seven phases: April 19, April 26, May 4, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.
Though the TMC is part of the INDIA bloc, it does not have a seat-sharing arrangement with the other parties in the alliance, like Congress and the Left parties in the state.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP marked a strong improvement, taking its tally from 2 in 2014 to 18 against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank.