Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday promised jobs to the family members of the victims killed in the post-poll violence after the 2021 Assembly polls.

Addressing a campaign rally at Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, which is going for repolling on May 21, the Chief Minister said that besides taking responsibility for granting jobs to the family members of those killed in 2021 post-poll violence, he will also take responsibility for the party workers who otherwise became victims of post-violence in the state.

The Chief Minister also directed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Falta, Debangshu Panda, to send him the list of party activists in that Assembly constituency who had been victims of atrocities by activists of the previous ruling party, Trinamool Congress.

“On the basis of the list, all sorts of assistance will be provided to the victims. Your Chief Minister will always be there for you,” CM Adhikari said.

As per the BJP’s own calculations, a total of 321 party workers were killed in the post-poll violence in the state after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The polling for Falta was conducted in the second phase of the two-phase recently concluded Assembly polls on April 29. However, on that day, several complaints of alleged electoral malpractices emerged from Falta.

At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape.

Subsequently, special poll observer Subrata Gupta, currently serving as adviser to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry into the allegations.

Based on Gupta’s findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered repolling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency. Repolling will be held on May 21, and the results will be declared on May 24.

On Monday, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Falta, Jahangir Khan, secured interim protection from the Calcutta High Court from coercive police action, including arrests, till the elections are completed and the results are declared.

–IANS

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