Sting operations against its leaders continue to haunt the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal with the latest victim being Bidhannagar mayor and the party’s nominee for Rajarhat-New Town constituency Sabyasachi Datta who admitted that his polls were funded by the “syndicate mafia raj” and it had the “power to dislodge the TMC government”.
The BJP on Wednesday demanded that Datta and others caught on video in the Narada sting be debarred from contesting elections. The party submitted a CD of the sting to the Election Commission in which Datta says that other than Rs 10,000 spent on filing his nomination, he need not spent any money as the “syndicate” was helping him.
In the video, Datta said, “This is open secret. It’s impossible to defeat me and I had even won during the CPI(M) regime with a massive victory margin. But these 20,000 people in the syndicate will never open their mouth against me publicly. Let them mention my name. I will withdraw my nomination.” When asked why the syndicate could not be uprooted, he said, “If there is no syndicate, then 20,000 people will starve to death and the government will collapse. Even if 2,000 goondas (ruffians) die, it will be a problem for the government.”
New Town, adjoining the metropolis, which has witnessed phenomenal real estate growth over the past several years is controlled by the “syndicates” of youth of various political affiliations. Builders are forced to purchase construction materials from them at exorbitant prices. They are, in fact, the local mafia and many TMC workers have been killed in gang fights.
Datta adds: “These people (syndicates) know that if they work for the legislator for a single day, they will be looked after for the next four-and-a-half years. Till now I have not even spent Rs 10 in my constituency.
“All expenses for my wall writings, posters and banners are done by them. I have to spend only on fuel, and also on the day of the polls — which might amount to Rs 7-10 lakh only. Otherwise to contest an election one has to spend Rs 50 to Rs 60 lakh,” he said in the sting video.
Datta claimed that the “syndicates” which are used by even the CPI(M) and the BJP were in his control. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in her public meetings has repeatedly warned these “syndicates” to keep away but in vain. TMC men continue to dominate these mafias, and feuds over their control have led to many party workers being murdered. A senior Bidhannagar city police official said, “It started with clashes and murders over the control of the area where a large number of apartment blocks are being built. Extortions are a key success of the syndicates. Naturally, ruling party leaders try to win their favour for electoral success.”
- The syndicate is filled with youth of various political affiliations. They’d rather work for an MLA for a day and be taken care of for four-and-a-half-years
- It’s a symbiotic relationship — the syndicate funds the candidates’ election expenses and ensuring they win, the leaders turn a blind eye to their activities like extortion
- New Town, adjoining the metropolis, which has witnessed phenomenal real estate growth in recent years is controlled by the “syndicates.Builders are forced to purchase construction materials from them at exorbitant prices