Kolkata: BJP claimed on Sunday that Trinamool Congress’ massive victory margin of over seven lakh votes from Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in the 2024 elections clearly indicts West Bengal’s electoral process, citing Diamond Harbour electoral fraud as a significant factor.
BJP Flags Diamond Harbour Electoral Fraud, Targets TMC Over 7 Lakh Vote Margin
In the Lok Sabha polls last year, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee defeated BJP’s Abhijit Das a.k.a. Bobby by a margin of 7,10,930 votes, securing a second consecutive term from Diamond Harbour. Meanwhile, the opposition raised allegations of Diamond Harbour electoral fraud.
BJP’s Information Technology Cell Chief and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, posted on social media in the morning, justifying his argument that this “record” margin from Diamond Harbour resulted from organized vote-loot, thereby highlighting Diamond Harbour electoral fraud concerns.
To support his claim, Malviya referred to a recent television interview of Swapan Mandal, General Secretary of the BLO Aikya Manch, an association of booth-level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal.
Malviya Cites Irregularities and Criticizes TMC’s Methods
“Abhishek Banerjee’s victory margin indicts West Bengal’s electoral process. Furthermore, testimony from former Presiding Officer Swapan Mandal suggests this “record” emerged through systematic loot revealing TMC’s brazen contempt for democracy,” said Malviya, quoting Mandal’s statements on the alleged election malpractices, thus encapsulating Diamond Harbour electoral fraud in 2024.
Malviya quoted various claims by Mandal, including preventing genuine voters from casting votes, covering EVM buttons of other candidates with black tape, leaving only the Trinamool Congress button accessible, and casting votes in the names of deceased individuals and absent migrant workers.
Additionally, Malviya claimed that the Diamond Harbour model applied in 2024 explains why West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vehemently opposes the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s Special Incentive Revision (SIR).
“Swapan Mandal indicated that widespread irregularities involving dead, absent, and potentially illegal voters inflate TMC’s numbers. Consequently, a clean voter list through SIR would dismantle the very foundation of TMC’s fraudulent mandate. She needs this compromised ecosystem to survive. Diamond Harbour isn’t an isolated incident it showcases TMC’s planned capture of the 2026 election,” Malviya said.
According to him, the first crucial step to prevent similar election malpractices in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls is to implement a thorough, transparent SIR, thereby reclaiming the true mandate of Bengal’s people.
–IANS
