Kolkata: The high-octane West Bengal Assembly election, which saw a record 93% voter turnout in the first phase, is set for an exciting climax.
Campaigning has ended, the silence period is in force, yet the state continues to hog the headlines.
Following incidents of violence on Monday, including the attack on Trinamool Congress MP Mitali Bag’s car near Arambagh, Bengal saw a fresh political flashpoint as Bollywood-style rhetoric played out on Tuesday.
It centred around Ajay Pal Sharma, one among 150-plus outstation police officers deployed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as observers for the West Bengal election.
Known as Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Singham’, Sharma has made a name for himself as an encounter specialist and is currently serving as Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Prayagraj.
The Ludhiana-born Sharma was in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, which has a 35% Muslim population and is considered to be a stronghold of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Officials said there were complaints of voters being asked to vote for TMC by Jahangir and his men, or face consequences.
There were also complaints of TMC workers forcibly collecting voter identity cards.
Sparks flew after a video surfaced in which the no-nonsense Sharma is seen warning supporters and family members of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan for allegedly intimidating voters.
Sharma reached Jahangir’s house on Monday night and warned of “firm and immediate steps” if any more complaints of voter intimidation was received.
Sharma issued a stern warning to relatives of Jahangir, who was not at home then. “Make sure he understands. If there are complaints of people being threatened, we will deal with it properly. If anyone indulges in wrongdoing or tries to harass voters, we will take strict action,” he said.
“Tell Jehangir that repeated complaints are coming that his people are threatening others. If that continues, we will take it up seriously. There should be no complaints later,” he added.
A day later, Jahangir responded.
“This is Bengal.. If he’s ‘Singham’, I am ‘Pushpa’,” he told local TV channels.
“No amount of threat or coercion by the BJP-appointed police officials from Uttar Pradesh will be allowed in Falta,” Jahangir said. “They came with forces and tried to pressure my people and me. Such actions are not acceptable in a democratic system.”
As Sharma led a route march of Jahangir’s constituency with hundreds of CRPF personnel, the TMC leader’s supporters gathered in Falta, raising ‘Jai Bangla’ slogans outside Jahangir’s residence and election office. They accused the police officer from UP of “intimidating” party workers ahead of polling.
“We won’t be intimidated by such threats,” Jahangir countered.
TMC leader and state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya backed Jahangir, stating that if Sharma considers himself ‘Singham’, then the party is ‘Pushpa’ and will not bow to his pressure tactics.
