West Bengal Congress Says TMC Not Letting Opposition Candidates File Nominations

The Congress has claimed that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Bengal is not allowing its candidates to file their nominations for the upcoming rural polls.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has also alleged that the sudden nature of the announcement of the polling dates is the result of the Trinamool Congress’ plan to prevent opposition candidates from filing nominations.

"We were caught off guard. The rural polls were announced suddenly to ensure that the opposition parties cannot file nomination papers," he said.

Chowdhury has added that the Congress would ask the State Election Commission (SEC) to take measures so that the opposition candidates are able to file their nominations. Dubbing the state election commissioner a “clawless tiger”, he spoke of the Congress’s demand of deployment of central forces during the upcoming election.

A senior state Congress leader echoed Chowdhury’s voice, "We won't be able to field candidates in all the seats. Leave aside gram panchayat. We have doubts whether we will be able to field candidates for zilla parishads."

(PTI)