‘Sandeshkhali voters threatened’: On the campaign trail with BJP’s Basirhat pick

#loksabhaelection2024 #sandeshkhali

The Sandeshkhali incident is now a focal point of the poll campaign in West Bengal, with the Trinamool trying to pitch it as BJP’s bid to defame the state and hurt “Bengal pride”. And the BJP in turn pointing to lawlessness and political patronage to criminals.

Amid that war of words, Rekha Patra has emerged as a symbol of the Sandeshkhali violence, having been picked as the BJP candidate from Muslim majority Basirhat – which is seeing a triangular contest this time, with TMC’s Haji Nurul Islam against Patra and CPIM’s Nirapada Sardar.

The Trinamool, meanwhile, is circulating a purported sting video to claim that the Sandeshkhali sexual harassment allegations were financially and politically motivated.

We followed Patra on her campaign trail, and asked her about the issue.

Watch.

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