With just two days remaining before a crucial phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court seeking immediate protection for its leaders and workers to protect them from “imminent arrests” allegedly motivated by political motives.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing several election rallies in various districts, has repeatedly claimed that her party members could be targeted and detained ahead of the polling. She has accused the Election Commission of acting in a manner that benefits the BJP, further fueling political tensions in the state.
According to the petition filed in the court, the TMC alleges that approximately 800 of its leaders and workers have been identified and could be arrested at any moment. Seeking immediate judicial intervention, the party has urged the court to prevent any punitive action before the elections.
On Monday, senior TMC leader and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee mentioned the matter before a division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen. Presenting the party’s concerns, Banerjee said, “There is a fear that around 800 Trinamool workers may be arrested immediately,” and appealed for swift judicial intervention.
The bench has allowed the formal filing of the petition, and a hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday.
This legal move comes amid sharp rhetoric from Mamata Banerjee, who has alleged throughout her election campaign that instructions are being issued from high levels of the Election Commission to target TMC members. However, both the Commission and opposition parties have denied these claims.