West Bengal Polls: ‘Boroline’ remark sparks row in Kolkata; Mamata Banerjee hits out at poll authorities

Kolkata: A social media message by the District Election Officer (DEO) of Kolkata South that those who disrupt polls would be dealt with so strictly that they would have to use ointments like ‘Boroline’ and ‘Burnol’ has snowballed into a controversy with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stating at a public rally on Tuesday that she would give “icecream” to the ECI to cool it down. She also expressed apprehension that police may arrest Trinamool Congress booth agents following the ECI’s instructions, leading to no Trinamool agents at the polling booths.

On Tuesday evening, the Trinamool Congress submitted a complaint to CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal. “A complaint (was submitted) against the DEO, Kolkata (South) for making, publishing, and sharing a malicious, inflammatory and threatening post in the garb of satire in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and committing an offence within the meaning of Sections 351 and 171 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” Trinamool said in the letter.

WB-CEO Agarwal told ET that a report has been sought on the matter.

Meanwhile, to ensure intimidation-free polls, the ECI team, which has been travelling to different parts of the state, asked the police and administration, to control rogues, history sheeters and rogues, bind them down by heavy bond amounts and keep track and warn them at regular intervals.

Banerjee alleged that “logical discrepancy” under the SIR exercise was used by ECI selectively in West Bengal and was not used in Bihar to benefit the BJP.

“We will have to take revenge by defeating the BJP. You have targeted Bengal…I challenge you…after defeating you in the upcoming elections we will defeat you at the Central level. After Bengal, Delhi is next,” she said.

“The arrest of Trinamool Congress’ booth agents has been ordered so that they cannot sit in the polling booths. You should keep alternatives ready. If a booth agent is arrested, a substitution should be there. If necessary, women members of your family will have to play the roles of booth agents,” she said while addressing a campaign rally at Pingla in West Midnapore district on Tuesday afternoon.