Kolkata, April 16 (IANS) The Trinamool Congress on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against BJP leaders Smriti Irani, Suvendu Adhikari and others for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and indulging in corrupt practice and offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal, the Trinamool Congress said, “This is to bring to your attention that on 15.04.2026, Shri Suvendu Adhikari, Smt. Smriti Irani and other leaders, members and workers of the BJP have announced a new scheme, namely, ‘Matrishakti Bhorsa Card’, wherein they are promising to give Rs 3,000 on a monthly basis, directly into the accounts of the cardholders. They have been distributing forms of the said newly introduced scheme at various places.”
The Mamata Banerjee-led party further said, “Such acts constitute a grave violation of the MCC and the rules and regulations prescribed by the ECI. Under the garb of such announcement, women beneficiaries are being induced to fill and submit the aforesaid forms, pursuant to which monetary consideration is disbursed, either through direct bank transfers or in cash.”
According to the Trinamool Congress, “The nature, timing and manner of such disbursement clearly indicate that it is not an isolated or charitable exercise, but a calculated and coordinated activity undertaken in proximity to the electoral period, with the manifest intent of influencing voters in favour of a particular political party.”
On Wednesday, BJP leader Smriti Irani was in Kolkata to launch and distribute the ‘Matrishakti Bhorsa Card’ to women in the city.
Following this development, the Trinamool Congress said, “Such conduct strikes at the very foundation of free and fair elections by compromising the independence of the voter’s choice and vitiating the level playing field among contesting parties.”
The party believes that the aforesaid acts constitute “corrupt practice” within the meaning of Section 123 of the RPA, 1951 and attract penal liability under Sections 61(2)/173/174 of the BNS, 2023.
In the letter, Trinamool asked the ECI to issue show cause notice(s) to Suvendu Adhikari, Smriti Irani and other leaders, members and workers of the BJP for the aforementioned violations of the MCC.
“Take immediate and stringent action against Shri Suvendu Adhikari, Smt. Smriti Irani and other leaders, members and workers of the BJP for the violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the rules and regulations as laid down by the Election Commission of India and for commission of offences within the meaning of Sections 61(2) /173/174 of the BNS, 2023 and Section 123 of the RPA, 1951,” the party said.
–IANS
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