Buddhadeb accused of violating poll code

Kolkata, April 16 (IANS) West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission accusing former chief minister and CPI-M leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee of violating the model code of conduct, a poll official said Wednesday.

"We have received a complaint against Bhattacharjee for violating the model code. The complaint has been filed by the Trinamool," Amit Roychowdhury, officer on special duty for the poll panel, told media persons here.

The complaint refers to Bhattacharjee's April 13 speech at Naihati in North 24 Parganas wherein he had criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for sharing the dais with controversial party leader Anubrata Mandal - infamous for making hate speeches.

"We have submitted a CD of Bhattacharjee's speech, which is a clear violation of the model code," Trinamool leader Baishanor Chatterjee later said.

"He made inflammatory comments. And he has also been accusing in every meeting that Trinamool workers are raping people," Chatterjee said.

Earlier in the day, a Communist Party of India-Marxist delegation led by state secretariat member Rabin Deb lodged a complaint with the panel, accusing the Trinamool of intimidating and threatening voters in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar.

The four Lok Sabha constituencies of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in northern West Bengal go to the polls Thursday in the first phase of balloting in the state.

Meanwhile, seizure of illicit liquor in the state continues, with over Rs.2.43 crore worth of liquor being confiscated.