Even as a delegation of six Trinamool Congress MPs called on the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in New Delhi on Friday (March 12) to seek fair probe into the Nandigram incident of March 10 which led to the injuries to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, her political rival, Suvendhu Adhikari, filed his nomination papers in Haldia.
In his 60-km long road show Suvendhu was accompanied by Union ministers Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradah and Babul Supriyo.
Suvendhu offered prayers in several temples both on Mahashivratri day in Nandigram and before filing his nomination papers in Haldia on Friday. He also paid tributes to 14 people killed on March 14, 2007 police firing against the land acquisition movement in Nandigram.
On the other hand, a TMC team led by Saugata Roy, MP, met the Election Commission at 12:30 PM with its own charter of demands, which most prominently included the investigation into what they alleged to be an attack on Mamata. The TMC also charged that the nomination papers of its candidates are being rejected and in at least one case the nominee had to seek the help of the court. The meeting lasted for 70 minutes.
Later talking to the media Saugata Roy said that they told the CEC that the state government was hurt as no discussion took place before the removal of DGP. He said that the delegation didn’t take the name of BJP but sought a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, the TMC on Friday took out silent marches across West Bengal in protest against the March 10 incident in Nandigram. Their workers also waved black flags and wore black arm-bands.
Media reports suggest that Mamata Banerjee is recovering fast and maybe discharged from the hospital soon.
