‘We know who you vote for’: TMC’s Sujit Bose aide Nirmal Dutta arrested in Bidhannagar, BJP moves EC

Kolkata, April 15: In a major pre-poll crackdown, Nirmal Dutta, a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor known to be close to senior party leader Sujit Bose, was arrested in Bidhannagar on Wednesday over allegations of intimidating and influencing voters.

The arrest comes within 24 hours of a complaint filed by BJP candidate Sharadwat Mukherjee who moved both the Election Commission and the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, accusing Dutta of issuing threats to voters ahead of the Assembly elections.

The controversy stems from a public meeting held in Salt Lake on April 13, where Dutta allegedly made a provocative statement targeting voters. According to the complaint, he said, “We know who in Dattabad votes where. We have Aadhaar cards and voter ID details.”

The remark triggered a political flashpoint, with the BJP alleging that the statement amounted to direct voter intimidation and an attempt to influence polling behaviour.

The party further claimed that residents were threatened during the gathering, escalating tensions in the Bidhannagar constituency.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, Bidhannagar Police arrested Dutta and produced him before a local court on Wednesday. The court remanded the Sujit Bose aide to 10 days of judicial custody.

Dutta’s arrest has intensified the political heat in Bidhannagar, a key battleground in the upcoming polls. Notably, his wife is a sitting TMC councillor from Ward No. 38 of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, adding another layer of political significance to the case.

Mukherjee’s reaction post Dutta’s arrest:

BJP alleged that Dutta threatened voters by claiming access to Aadhaar-linked data to track votes, calling it unconstitutional.

This is not the first controversy involving Dutta. He had earlier faced allegations of assaulting BJP workers in the Dattabad area, further fuelling tensions between the two parties in the region.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a rally in Islampur on the same day, alleged bias in the action against TMC leaders.

“If one Trinamool leader is arrested, a hundred more will rise,” she said, accusing authorities of selectively targeting her party ahead of the elections.

West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases on April 23 and 29 across 294 Assembly constituencies, with Bidhannagar and Kolkata voting in the second phase. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

With allegations of voter intimidation, swift police action, and sharp political reactions, the arrest of Sujit Bose’s close aide has further escalated the high-voltage battle in the run-up to the Bengal Assembly elections.