In letter to poll body, TMC flags 'special trains' to ferry voters from Surat

With political heat at its peak on the eve of the first phase of Assembly polls, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the BJP, alleging that the party arranged free train travel for voters in violation of election laws and in an attempt to influence the electoral outcome.

TMC MP Derek O’Brien wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer after videos surfaced on social media purportedly showing “special trains” organised by the BJP from Gujarat's Surat to West Bengal. One such video showed BJP workers seeing off passengers amid chants of "Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

In its complaint, the Trinamool Congress alleged that the Indian Railways, which functions under the administrative control of the Centre, cannot be deployed, directly or indirectly, for partisan electoral purposes. It further claimed that such arrangements amount to "bribery" and "corrupt practices".

“It has come to our attention through a social media post on ‘X’ that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including its Gujarat Unit, has arranged and facilitated special trains and provided free travel, food and other refreshments for transporting migrant workers to West Bengal (who are registered voters of West Bengal). This is nothing but a propaganda aimed to mobilise supporters in favour of BJP and to influence the electoral outcome,” the complaint said.

The Trinamool Congress also cited the social media posts as evidence.

“The involvement by BJP, in arranging such transport at the cost of public exchequer, raises a serious apprehension of misuse of official position and access to State-controlled resources. Even if BJP has undertaken the cost factor, even then such free services is barred by extant instructions of the Election Commission of India. Such acts of the BJP confer an undue advantage in the electoral process and thereby violate the principle of a level playing field,” the complaint by O'Brien further alleged.

The Trinamool Congress urged the Election Commission to initiate action against the BJP and its leaders, and to direct the party to include the entire expenditure incurred on these “special trains” in the election expense accounts of all concerned candidates.

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, where the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress are locked in a direct contest, is scheduled to take place on Thursday.