Modi’s visit to Bangladesh ‘violates’ electoral code of conduct: Trinamool to Indian EC

West Bengal's Trinamool Congress has written to the Indian Election Commission, alleging that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Bangladesh had "violated" the code of conduct for the state assembly elections.

In the letter, dated March 28, Trinamool Congress also alleged that during Modi's two-day visit, some of his programmes "intended to influence the voting pattern" in certain constituencies of the state.

Modi visited Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 to attend the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the country's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following an invitation from his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

"We have no objection whatsoever to his visit to Bangladesh for this official purpose. After all, India played a critical role in the liberation of Bangladesh. West Bengal, in particular, made an immense contribution to the heroic struggle of our fellow Bengalis in (what was then) East Pakistan for freedom from the brutal regime in West Pakistan," reads the letter signed by TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien.

"However, the All India Trinamool Congress strongly objects to Shri Modi's programmes in Bangladesh on March 27. These had nothing to do with either the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh or the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. Rather, they were solely and exclusively intended to influence the voting pattern in certain constituencies in the ongoing elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal," the letter said.

"No Indian Prime Minister has so brazenly indulged in an unethical and undemocratic act and violated the Model Code of Conduct by indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil," it charged.

The letter alleged the political motive behind Modi's visit was proved by the fact that he took along with him BJP lawmaker from West Bengal Santanu Thakur who holds no official position in the government of India.

"No MP or representative from the Trinamool Congress or other parties was invited to accompany the PM. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has thus grossly misused his official position to interfere from foreign soil in the election process in West Bengal," O'Brien said.

"The All India Trinamool Congress demands that the Election Commission of India not only censure him but also take deterrent punitive action against him," the letter stated.