The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that he made “polarizing and criminally intimidating statements” during election campaigning in West Bengal. In a representation to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, the ruling party accused the BJP leader of violating the election Model Code of Conduct (MCC), provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The letter stated that on April 16, Sarma, while addressing a public rally in Cooch Behar, made “inciteful, polarizing, and criminally intimidating statements” that were also “defamatory and unverified allegations” against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The complaint alleged that Sarma said Banerjee was afraid that if the BJP came to power in West Bengal, people would not be able to consume meat and further claimed that beef could and should be banned.
According to the complaint, such remarks are “not merely inappropriate political rhetoric but constitute a deliberate, inciteful and calculated act of promoting religious hatred and fostering communal tension between different communities of West Bengal and could suffocate the peaceful conduct of elections and foment social unrest.” The party further claimed that the remarks against Banerjee were defamatory and violated MCC guidelines on maintaining dignity in public discourse, as well as Supreme Court directions on refraining from using religion in election campaigns. The complaint cited alleged offences under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including defamation. Seeking action, the TMC urged the poll panel to “issue a show cause notice” to Sarma and the BJP, take “stringent action” against him, and direct police authorities to register an FIR.