On Eve Of Last Phase Of Polls, Mamata Banerjee Takes A Break. CPM Suspicious

Kolkata: After spending days on campaign trail, Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has decided to take a break. The spot she has chosen is Chalsa - a town near Cooch Behar district, which is going to polls tomorrow in the last phase of elections in the state.

Two of her closest police officers have been stationed at nearby Alipurduar - triggering opposition claims of foul play ahead of elections.  

The CPM has already alleged that Suvendu Adhikari, Trinamool Congress's candidate from Nandigram, had meant to bribe the Central forces with some old fashioned wining and dining.

In this, the Left says, he was aided by seven police officers - all of them had met post-midnight on May 2 at a college. The party has even written to the Election Commission about this.

Altogether, 25 seats in Cooch Behar and East Midnapore go to polls tomorrow.

Advertisement

The Left had written to the Election Commission to stop the police from assisting the ruling party. The Commission responded by asking Bharati Ghosh, an officer close to Mamata, to remain in Kolkata. Ms Ghosh, a special superintendent with the CID, used to be in the West Midnapore district, next door to East Midnapore.

"The Chief Minister is now in North Bengal, near Cooch Behar. The officers close to her are with her and are in constant touch with the local thanas," said CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra, hinting at attempts of foul play.

Advertisement

The Trinamool has rubbished the claims. "Our marijuana-loving friend, Surjya Mishra, has almost lost his constituency but has still not lost his high," said Sisir Adhikari, Trinamool lawmaker and father of the Nandigram candidate.