Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Derek O’Brien and Sagarika Ghose are set to join the INDIA alliance rally scheduled for March 31 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, as confirmed by TMC leader Shashi Panja. This announcement comes amidst a wave of political activity surrounding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with several prominent leaders from the alliance slated to participate in the rally in support of Kejriwal.
Gopal Rai, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a Delhi Minister, revealed the lineup of leaders expected to attend the rally in solidarity with Chief Minister Kejriwal. Rai emphasized the widespread response from across the country following Kejriwal’s arrest and highlighted the significance of the INDIA alliance’s backing of the Delhi Chief Minister.
Among the notable figures confirmed to join the rally are Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Bhagwant Mann, Champai Soren, Tejashwi Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury, along with others, as announced by Rai.
Furthermore, TMC leader Shashi Panja disclosed the party’s intent to seek an audience with the full bench of the Central Election Commission on Monday. Panja outlined concerns regarding electoral practices in West Bengal, particularly the involvement of enforcement agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and National Investigation Agency (NIA). Panja alleged that these agencies are being utilized by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to target opposition parties, citing instances of investigations affecting opposition candidates during the election period.
Previously, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India regarding remarks made by BJP leader Dilip Ghosh. Ghosh demanded action against Ghosh for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct with derogatory comments aimed at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP leader is contesting from the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency.
Responding to criticisms, Dilip Ghosh defended his remarks, asserting they were made in a political context and aimed at countering statements by Mamata Banerjee. He clarified that his comments were not driven by personal animosity towards the Chief Minister but rather stemmed from political disagreements. However, TMC leaders reiterated their stance, labeling Ghosh’s comments as derogatory and highlighting a pattern of controversial statements by the former state BJP chief.
The TMC’s complaint against Dilip Ghosh adds to the political tensions brewing in West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The electoral landscape in the state remains charged, with parties vying for support and engaging in heated exchanges amidst allegations of misconduct and violation of electoral norms.
