If he’s Singham, I am Pushpa: TMC leader reacts after U.P.-cadre IPS visit sparks protest
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters held a protest in South 24 Parganas district’s Falta, accusing Election Commission-appointed IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre Ajay Pal Sharma of “intimidating” party workers and leaders ahead of the second phase of polling in West Bengal. Senior TMC leaders and Ministers alleged that the IPS officer was overstepping his role.
“The 2011-batch IPS officer faced protests from TMC supporters, who raised ‘Jai Bangla’ in front of the residence as well as the election office of local TMC candidate Jahangir Khan,” officials said.
A poll panel official said Mr. Sharma visited the area after the Election Commission received reports that Mr. Khan’s men were allegedly collecting voter identity cards from people in the constituency and threatening them.
During the visit, the IPS officer, who has earned the moniker ‘Singham’ (daredevil) in Uttar Pradesh, said he would not allow the candidate or his associates to intimidate the voters.
Officials said Mr. Sharma is among the 95 observers deployed by the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polling in the second phase.
Reacting to the development, TMC candidate Mr. Khan alluded to the Telugu-language action film ‘Pushpa’ and the Bollywood cop movie ‘Singham’ to say he would not allow “BJP-appointed police officials to threaten voters”. – PTI
