Siliguri, 06th April: Political tensions escalated in Siliguri ahead of the elections following allegations of campaign material vandalism and removal of party flags. Trinamool Congress raised concerns over multiple incidents of flex posters being torn or defaced across different areas of the city.
Reportedly, on Sunday night, in Ward No. 13, a flex of TMC candidate Gautam Deb was allegedly tampered with by placing a sticker of the Prime Minister over it. The party also alleged that BJP workers have been removing campaign flexes and party flags from several locations.
In protest, TMC staged a symbolic sit-in near the Gandhi statue on Kachari Road on Monday morning. Gautam Deb, along with other party leaders, was present at the protest site.
Deb alleged that BJP was orchestrating these acts by deploying people across wards and claimed that even images of party supremo Mamata Banerjee were being defaced. He added that a complaint has been lodged with the Election Commission.
Responding to the allegations, BJP candidate Shankar Ghosh denied the claims, stating that similar incidents had earlier happened to BJP’s campaign materials as well. He said complaints were filed with the police and demanded investigation through CCTV footage, asserting that no BJP worker was involved in removing TMC flexes.