BJP candidate for Bhabanipur Assembly bypoll Priyanka Tibrewal on Tuesday wrote to the Election Commission, claiming that she was being stopped by the West Bengal Police from door-to-door campaigning on the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
In a letter to the EC, Priyanka Tibrewal’s election agent said the BJP candidate went door-to-door campaigning near the houses of Mamata Banerjee, who is also contesting the bypoll, and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee in Bhabanipur on Tuesday.
However, even after following all Covid-related rules and regulations, Priyanka Tibrewal was stopped by the police during her campaign, allegedly on the instructions of Mamata Banerjee, the letter read.
Ms Tibrewal, who is up against Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the September 30 bypoll, said she would approach the Election Commission against the “police action”.
A police officer stationed in the area said she was asked not to be accompanied by a large group of people in view of the COVID-19 situation, but “she kept on arguing with the personnel”.
Ms Tibrewal, however, alleged that she was not allowed to undertake campaigning in certain pockets of the area, even in small groups, by policemen and Trinamool supporters.
“The police stopped me from interacting with voters. I will move the Election Commission soon against this conduct of the police. I will also request the poll panel not to keep on duty the officer-in-charge of Bhabanipur police station on the day of the by-election,” she said.
“There are voters on that street and despite having permission, why cannot I or our party go there to campaign?” she questioned, claiming that ruling TMC leaders were freely campaigning in the area.
Reacting to Priyanka Tibrewal’s allegations, West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim said the BJP candidate was staging a drama. “Tibrewal is sure of her defeat in Bhabanipur, and that is why she is staging a drama,” PTI quoted him as saying.