KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool has formally lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by claiming that he had the support of 40 Trinamool legislators, who would join the BJP after the LS polls are over.
The letter to the ECI sent late on Monday and signed by Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien said, “We are shocked and surprised to hear the utterances of Narendra Modi that 40 All India Trinamool Congress MLAs are in touch with him and will cross over to BJP after the declaration of results. He is trying to influence the voters to vote for BJP. We lodge a strong protest against this mischievous campaign of Modi.’’
Demanding cancellation of Modi’s candidature, Derek requested the ECI to ask Modi for proof in support of his statement, failing which his nomination should be cancelled for violation of the Model Code of Conduct by making such provocative statements.Shortly after Modi’s claim on Monday, Derek had tweeted and accused the Prime Minister of horse trading.
Demanded cancellation of Modi’s candidature from Varanasi for “shamelessly indulging in horse trading”, Mamata, while addressing a rally in Hooghly on Tuesday, said, “In my party, people are dedicated and ready to shed their blood. They cannot be bought with money power... The people will give a befitting reply to the BJP through the power of their votes.’’
The firebrand Trinamool chief also said that people usually revere national leaders, but Modi was an exception. “National leaders like Netaji (Subhas Chandra Bose) are revered and loved by all. It is only people like Modi and Gabbar Singh that people are scared of.”