| |
|---|
News Desk: Even as West Bengal BJP leaders claim that their candidates for Kolkata Municipal Corporation are campaigning in full swing, the ground reality seemed a bit different. Several BJP candidates alleged that they are facing multiple issues, including lack of supporters and resources.
Some candidates are allegedly campaigning with two or three supporters, while some are campaigning alone. Meanwhile, some candidates have even withdrawn their nomination.
The BJP was the only party to field an army veteran for the polls. Retired Colonel Kunal Bhattacharjee has been fielded by BJP in Ward No 1 in Eastern Kolkata. However, he was seen campaigning alone.
Colonel (Rtd) Kunal Bhattacharjee said that his party is aware of the issue, but nothing fruitful has been done yet.
“In 2019, our candidate Rahul Sinha lost in Lok Sabha but had a lead of 1300 votes from my ward. Where are these people? TMC says that post-poll violence is a myth. Post poll violence has led to our supporters being afraid to get out on the streets. Everyone I go to states that they will vote for me. but is afraid to get out and support me publicly” said Col Bhattacharjee.
Two candidates of BJP, Sadanand Prasad and Mumtaz Ali, have withdrawn their nomination.
Another BJP candidate for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections Mumtaz Ali, who withdrew her nomination, cited “lack of support from party cadres”.
“I did not want to withdraw. But the day I went to file my nomination, there was no one from the party except my election agent” said Mumtaz Ali.
She was the Bengal BJP’s candidate from Ward 134 for the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls. Just two days after filing her nomination, she withdrew from the contest allegedly due to lack of ground-level support from her party.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blames it on the effect of post-poll violence in West Bengal.
BJP spokesperson Shishir Bajoria claimed that a huge section of party supporters are afraid to step out of their houses, but will vote for the saffron brigade eventually.
