New Delhi, Nov 15 The Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress on Sunday submitted affidavits and other documents to the Election Commission in the ongoing dispute over the party’s organisational control.
The poll panel is hearing the dispute under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which empowers it to decide disputes between rival groups of a recognised political party.
The dispute stems from a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee staking claims to the TMC party’s control, symbol and funds.
Talking to reporters here after submitting the documents, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee accused the rival group of procuring forged affidavits through police intimidation in West Bengal to present them to the Election Commission.
He alleged that police officers forced TMC party leaders, office-bearers, and grassroots workers to sign affidavits in favour of the rival group and added that in many cases, these signatures were forged.
Banerjee said his side submitted all its pleadings and affidavits in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions, providing both hard and soft copies to the poll panel.
“We have original affidavits. We have no fear. They have forged affidavits. So they have not given it out of fear,” he said.
“Every police station’s officer forced people to sign the affidavits, and in many affidavits, the signatures are forged,” he alleged.
Questioning why the rival group had not shared copies of its affidavits with his side, Banerjee said the poll panel could not take cognisance of documents that had not been disclosed to them.
He said his side would send soft copies of all the affidavits submitted by it to the Ritabrata-led group.
“Whenever the affidavits are disclosed, we will prosecute them. We will put Mr Ritabrata Banerjee in jail,” he said.
Banerjee said his side had submitted affidavits from 17 MPs, 32 MLAs in West Bengal, five MLAs in Meghalaya and one MLA in Assam, besides more than two lakh affidavits from grassroots-level workers.
He also challenged the rival group to demonstrate its support among legislators, disputing Ritabrata’s claim of having the backing of 65 MLAs.
(PTI News)
