Audio clip war erupts in Bengal as TMC, BJP release 'leaked tapes'

NEW DELHI: A fresh controversy erupted in West Bengal on Saturday after the Trinamool Congress and BJP came out with leaked audio tapes to target each other as crucial assembly elections kicked off in the state.
It all started with the BJP releasing an audio clip where chief minister Mamata Banerjee is purportedly heard convincing saffron party leader Praloy Pal to rejoin the TMC and help her win the Nandigram seat.
Mamata is contesting the elections from Nandigram this year and will face her protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari from the BJP.
"You should help us win Nandigram. Look, I know you have some grievances, but that's due mostly to the Adhikaris who never allowed me to get into Nandigram or East Midnapore. I will take care of everything henceforth," Banerjee purportedly told Pal, a BJP official in East Midnapore
Pal, however, did not heed to Mamata's requests.
"Didi, you called me and I am honoured. But I can't betray the Adhikaris as they have stood by me through thick and thin," he was heard saying in the audio clip.
A BJP delegation, led by party general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, met the state's chief electoral officer and handed over the tape.
It claimed that Banerjee is misusing her official position as the chief minister to influence the outcome of the assembly elections.
The TMC questioned the authenticity of the tape but said there is nothing wrong even if Banerjee did try to woo back a former party leader.
"First of all, the clip is not verified. We don't know whether it is true or false. But we don't see anything wrong in a politician calling her former leaders or aides. This is quite natural in politics," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Hours later, TMC released an audio clip featuring senior BJP leader Mukul Roy where he can be purportedly heard telling industrialist and party leader Shishir Bajoria about how to influence the Election Commission.
"See, we have to include this point while meeting the EC. We have to say that this rule that polling agents can only be deputed in their localities should be changed. The only criteria should be that the person is a citizen of the state. The BJP won't be able to have its agents in a large number of booths otherwise," Roy purportedly told Bajoria.
TMC's Ghosh said that the tape featuring roy has exposed the "nexus" between the BJP and the poll panel.
The high-profile Nandigram seat will go to polls on April 1 in the second phase.
As many as 30 constituencies went to polls in the first phase of polling in the state on Saturday. Nearly 80% voter turnout was recorded till 5pm, according to EC.
(With inputs from PTI)