Kolkata, April 15 (IANS) Former Trinamool Congress councillor Nirmal Dutta was arrested in Bidhannagar on Wednesday on charges of allegedly intimidating and influencing voters.

On Tuesday, BJP candidate from Bidhannagar, Sharadwat Mukherjee, approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) with the allegation.

The BJP candidate also met the Commissioner of Police of Bidhannagar and lodged a complaint against Dutta. Based on the complaint, the Trinamool Congress leader was arrested. Nirmal Dutta’s wife is a Trinamool Congress councillor from Ward No. 38 of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation.

Former Trinamool Congress councillor Nirmal Dutta was heard saying at a meeting, “We will know who the people of the Dattabad area are and where they vote; we have Aadhaar cards, voter cards.” It was after this comment that the BJP lodged the complaint.

It is worth noting that the controversy began following Nirmal Dutta’s remarks at a meeting in Salt Lake on April 13.

Allegations of threats were made against people at the public meeting. Following this, BJP candidate from Bidhannagar, Sharadwat Mukherjee, filed a written complaint with the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner alleging intimidation and influencing voters. He also filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Nirmal Dutta.

Based on the complaint, Trinamool Congress leader Nirmal Dutta was arrested within 24 hours. He was produced before a Bidhannagar court on Wednesday.

The court ordered 10 days of judicial custody. It is to be noted that earlier, Nirmal Dutta was accused of assaulting BJP workers in the Dattabad area of Salt Lake.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that if one Trinamool Congress leader is arrested, then a hundred more leaders will take their place.

While speaking at an election rally in Islampur in North Dinajpur district, Banerjee slammed the Election Commission for arresting Trinamool Congress leaders ahead of the Assembly polls.

Polling will be held in 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Bidhannagar and Kolkata will go to polls in the second phase.

Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

–IANS

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