The Trinamool Congress (TMC) wrote to the Election Commission of India on Saturday, accusing West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Sukanta Majumdar of “insulting state emblem of India and the state police”. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party said the statement was made during an election rally in poll-bound Taldangra.

“It has come to our notice that on 07.11.2024, Shri Sukanta Majumdar who is the BJP State President in West Bengal, delivered a false, derogatory and defamatory speech during an election rally in poll- bound Taldangra,” the TMC said in a letter to the Election Commission.

The TMC alleged that Sukanta Majumdar “insulted” the State Emblem of India and the State Police “by stating that police personnel should replace the Emblem on their uniforms with icons resembling footwear”.

Majumdar was quoted in the letter as saying, “Don’t act as an agent of Trinamool. Remove the Ashoka Stambh on your uniform and replace it with the symbol of a sandal. Don’t hide behind the uniform.”

The TMC said the “inflammatory statement not only malign the state police but also constitute a grave insult to the sanctity of the Ashoka Stambh, our revered State Emblem, by suggesting its removal in a derogatory context.”

The TMC said these remarks were “devoid of any factual basis” and “are clearly aimed at undermining the credibility of the State Police who are discharging their duties with utmost dedication to maintain law and order during the elections.”

“This constitutes a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign a neutral law enforcement agency, and create an atmosphere of distrust and hostility,” the TMC alleged in the letter to the Election Commission.

Banerjee’s political party further alleged that the BJP’s “politically motivated propaganda” violated the spirit of free and fair elections. “By spreading false and malicious allegations, it seeks to unduly influence voters, which may be considered a corrupt practice under the extant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the TMC said.

TMC demands action against

The party demanded the Election Commission to take action against Sukanta Majumdar. “Issue appropriate direction(s)/order(s) to penalize Shri Sukanta Majumdar for attempting to malign the credibility of the State Police and to cause a grave insult to the sanctity of the Ashoka Stambh,” the TMC said.

The TMC also sought Majumdar’s unconditional apology “for insulting the State Emblem of India in furtherance of his oblique political agendas.”

BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty—a Bollywood actor-turned-politician—on Sunday further heated up the already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal by responding with a message of violence against a statement made by TMC leader Humayun Kabir before the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Referring to a pre-Lok Sabha election comment by the Trinamool’s Humayun Kabir, in which he threatened the rival party workers on religious grounds and was reprimanded by the Election Commission, Chakraborty called on the saffron party workers to “chop them up and bury them underground.”

“A leader says there are 70 per cent Muslims and 30 per cent Hindus (and) that he will ‘cut’ and throw them in the Bhagirathi… I thought the Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) would say something. She didn’t.. so now I am saying, we will chop them (up) and bury them in the ground..” NDTV quoted Chakraborty as saying.

“I am not the Chief Minister… but I am saying this,” the BJP leader said days before the by-polls for six Assembly seats next month, “We will do anything to win the masnad (throne) of Bengal… it will belong to the BJP after the 2026 Assembly election.”

The Bollywood actor was speaking at an event inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch the BJP membership drive in West Bengal.

“I am saying it again and again… we will do anything (to win the 2026 election) anything. I am saying this with Home Minister Amit Shahji sitting here – we will do anything,” Chakraborty said.

“I say we will cut you up and throw you, not in the Bhagirathi because that is our mother, but we will throw you in the ground,” the Bollywood actor added.

Chakraborty accused the Bengal state government of not allowing the Hindu community to cast votes.

Mithun’s inciting statement followed similar inflammatory remarks by TMC leader Humayun Kabin who had threatened the Hindu community living in the state while campaigning for a party candidate Murshidabad in May 2024, days before the Lok Sabha polls.

The TMC leader reportedly said at a rally, “You are 30 per cent (of the people here) but we are 70 per cent… if you think you can demolish mosques and Muslims will sit back and relax… (you are wrong). I will leave politics if I don’t drown you people in the Bhagirathi…”