Medinipur, 19 February (H.S.): As elections approach, walls are filled with political party propaganda. This time, in the run-up to the upcoming assembly election campaign, a wall graffiti has sparked controversy. Allegedly, the graffiti mentions a particular community and appeals for votes, sparking outrage from political party leaders and many voters.
A wall graffiti linked to the BJP in the Golapichak area of Medinipur city, in West Medinipur district, sparked controversy. The wall graffiti read, When born in a Hindu family, vote for the lotus flower, along with a large lotus symbol.
During the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process, various parties have intensified their election preparations. Both the ruling party and the opposition are actively campaigning to reach voters with their messages. However, this wall graffiti in Golapichak has sparked accusations of communalism because it appeals to voters based on religious identity.
Critics said it signals communal division and could impact the electoral landscape.
Medinipur District Trinamool Congress President and MLA Sujay Hazra alleged that a particular party has long been playing politics based on religion. He said that such wall graffiti has never been seen in Bengal before, and that instead of seeking votes based on development or work, an attempt is being made to influence people through religious divisions.
Leftist leaders in West Medinipur also reacted, calling the graffiti unconstitutional. District-level leaders stated that seeking votes based on religion or caste is contrary to democratic values. They demanded the administration investigate the matter and take necessary action, stating that elections are a celebration of democracy, where a message of division is unacceptable.
However, the BJP took a different stance. District BJP vice-president Shankar Guchhait said he had no idea who wrote the post. He said that amid allegations of attacks on Hindus in the state, someone could send such a message of support, and it did not call for voting for any other community.
The issue also drew mixed reactions among voters. Somi Banerjee, a voter in Medinipur, said she has been voting for almost 22 years, but politics currently seems to be moving towards religious polarization, and as a voter, she does not support that.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
