The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that “genuine Hindu voters” were prevented from voting in the recent Lok Sabha elections and recent by-elections in four constituencies in West Bengal, and on Tuesday launched a web portal where people who were allegedly denied their right to vote can lodge complaints.
In India’s Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the BJP suffered a setback in West Bengal, winning just 12 of the 42 constituencies, six fewer than it won in 2019. In by-elections to four state assembly constituencies last week, the BJP failed to retain the three seats it had previously held, with the ruling TMC winning the election in a landslide victory.
“We have launched a portal where genuine voters who were not allowed to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the recently concluded Assembly by-elections can register their names. Anyone who was not allowed to vote can register himself. Complete confidentiality will be ensured,” Suvendu Adhikari, a Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said.
Adhikari alleged that around five million Hindus were not allowed to vote in the state assembly elections.
“Democracy is dead in Bengal…Around five million Hindus were unable to vote in the Lok Sabha elections. Over 200,000 Hindus were also unable to vote in the four Assembly by-elections held in the state,” Adhikari alleged.
“We have launched a mass movement today… I will also launch a legal battle,” the BJP leader added.
Earlier, in a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan over alleged post-election violence, Adhikari had gathered 100 “genuine voters” who were deprived of exercising their democratic rights in the by-elections and Lok Sabha elections at Government House and announced that they would “expose the terror and intimidation unleashed by the TMC during voting”.
The TMC responded by saying the BJP’s move was “only to cover up its own shortcomings.” “They (the BJP) are frustrated by repeated rejection from the people of West Bengal. They are looking for excuses. Instead of such nonsense they should face reality,” TMC minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim said.
© Indian Express Ltd.
First uploaded: 17 July 2024 03:35 IST
