Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday levelled serious allegations against the Trinamool Congress (TMC), claiming that threats by ruling party workers led to the death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in West Bengal’s Jadavpur Assembly constituency.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, BJP MP Sambit Patra said the BLO, identified as Ashok Das, was posted at booth number 110 in the 150 Jadavpur Assembly constituency and was carrying out his duties in accordance with constitutional provisions and government guidelines.
Patra alleged that Das was threatened by TMC workers Ananya Banerjee and Raju Biswas from Ward No. 109 while performing voter list-related work. According to the BJP leader, Das was warned that if “even a single infiltrator’s name” was removed from the electoral rolls, he and his family would face dire consequences.
“He committed the ‘crime’ of honestly doing his duty as a BLO appointed by the Government of India. In return, he was threatened repeatedly,” Patra said, alleging that the threats extended to Das’s wife and children. He further claimed that following continuous intimidation, Ashok Das took his own life.
The BJP MP said that Das’s wife has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused TMC workers, holding them responsible for the circumstances that allegedly led to her husband’s death.
Targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Patra accused her of attempting to “divide and break Bengal” and claimed that violence in the state was escalating. “Blood is being shed in Bengal. This is murder,” he said, terming the incident not a suicide but a case of murder driven by political intimidation.
The Trinamool Congress has not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of filing this report. Authorities have also not yet released detailed findings related to the case, and investigations are expected to continue based on the FIR filed by the victim’s family.
