TMC leaders to say ‘sorry’ where many could not cast vote

Trinamool Congress leaders would apologise to the residents of North 24 Parganas district who could not cast their votes in the panchayat elections. The elections were marked by allegations of widespread intimidation and muscle-flexing by ruling party supporters to prevent Opposition candidates from filing nomination and the common people from voting in many places.

Opposition leaders in the state described the move as “meaningless”, and “triggered by the realisation of eroding base.”

In as many as 34.2% of the total 58,692 seats, Opposition candidates could not file nomination. The Supreme Court has barred the state Election Commission from declaring results for these seats until the hearing on July 3.

Around 40 people lost their lives in election- related violence between April 2 and May 17, Opposition parties have said.

On Saturday, state food and supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mullick, also TMC’s North 24 Parganas president, asked party leaders to apologise to the people.

“Can’t comment on Mullick’s plans. But I have already told my workers to go to the people, note down their grievances, apologise and try to solve them,” party’s West Midnapore district president Ajit Maity said.

“Voting was free in Hooghly. We don’t have such plans,” said district chief Tapan Dasgupta.

Mullick said his directive came on the orders of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. “The CM told us on June 21 at a meeting. She told us to listen to the grievances of the people, and if necessary, accept mistakes and apologise. However, what I said was not specific to the panchayat polls.”

“TMC is apprehensive it’s fast losing popularity,” BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.

“Such directives are meaningless. If they were sorry, the CM would have publicly apologised,” Left Front leader in state assembly Sujan Chakraborty said.

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