Kolkata, April 24 (IANS) Accusing a section of the media of spreading canards to malign her government and create unrest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday reiterated her claim that the April 18 Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls were as “peaceful” as ever.
“One influential media house is trying to spread canards to malign our government. They want to create unrest. Our government is doing good work. So a section of the media is hatching conspiracy against us,” Banerjee told media persons here.
On allegations that the ruling Trinamool Congress was bringing toughs from Jaharkhand to foment terror during Saturday’s civic polls across the state, she said: “Jharkhand is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party. How can Trinamool bring people from there?”
Banerjee said such “unilateral” allegations should not be made without proof.
Refering to the April 18 Kolkata municipal elections, she said: “I have never seen so peacefull polls.”
“The administration has done a good job. Steps were taken wherever there were allegations. Can you show any blood-letting?”
On the incident at Girish Park in north Kolkata, where a police sub-inspector was shot at, the chief minister said it happened after 5 p.m., long after the polling hours.
“The incident resulted from a scuffle. Arrests have been made,” she said.
Banerjee claimed during the rule of the Left Front, people used to be locked in their homes on the polling day.
“Cadres used to move around with firearms. Now democracy has been restored after 34 years. So now there is a campaign of disinformation,” she said. “All this is nothing but a race to raise TRPs.”
Banerjee said out of 4,646 booths in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls, there were complaints from only 10 to 12 booths.
She exuded confidence that polling on Saturday will also be peaceful and urged people not to fall victim to any efforts at instigation.
Ninety-one civic bodies – 88 municipalities, two municipal corporations and a notified area – spread across 18 districts, go to the hustings on Saturday.