A fresh controversy has erupted in West Bengal’s volatile political landscape after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that a youth linked to Bangladesh’s quota reformation movement has been enlisted as a voter in the state.
The BJP claims that Newton Das, allegedly a participant in the 2024 student-led protests in Bangladesh, is named in the voter list of the Kakdwip assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district.
The BJP went a step further by releasing a photograph showing Newton Das with a student leader affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party alleged that Das, whose entire family is said to be Bangladeshi, previously resided in Daspara under the Swami Vivekananda Gram Panchayat in Kakdwip.
According to the BJP’s Mathurapur Organisational District Secretary, Sanjay Das, “The ruling party Trinamool is bringing Bangladeshi jihadis to this country to win the election by making voter cards and giving them citizenship. Newton is associated with the Bangladesh movement.I saw his pictures with the student leader here. He came from Bangladesh and is talking against this country. Immediate action should be taken against them.”
The TMC, however, has rejected the allegations, countering that responsibility for border security lies with the Border Security Force (BSF), which operates under the Union Home Ministry led by Amit Shah.
The party has also raised concerns about the Election Commission, accusing it of being complicit in voter list tampering. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has previously formed a committee to identify ‘fake voters’ amid growing allegations from both ends.
In response to the BJP’s claims, Newton Das issued a video statement denying all allegations.
“I am a resident of Kakdwip. I had to go to Bangladesh in 2024 due to ancestral land issues and was present during a protest in July. But the rumours being spread are baseless. I’ve been a voter here since 2014. I have my Aadhar card and I even voted for our local MLA Manturam Pakhira. My voter card was reissued in 2018 after I lost it in 2017. This is a conspiracy against me by a particular community,” he said in the video.
Debashis Das, President of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad for the Sundarbans Organisational District, clarified his association with Newton, saying, “We can’t know who is involved in the quota movement in Bangladesh and who is not, sitting in India. I have no political connection with Newton Das. We were schoolmates and met again in 2021 after more than a decade.”
“He came to me for a land-related issue. The picture being circulated was taken during a birthday party where many were present. The wrong message is being sent through that image,” he added.
He further blamed improper border security management and said, “The central BSF is not guarding the border properly. This problem will be solved only if they strengthen the security at the border. And I will tell the administration to investigate the matter and take action against the culprits.”
Despite the furor, the local police have confirmed that no formal complaints have been lodged. A senior district police official said, “We haven’t received any complaints from any side so far. If we get complaints, the matter will be investigated.”
The controversy has added fuel to the ongoing political turmoil in West Bengal over alleged fake voters and voter list manipulation. With both sides trading barbs and tensions running high, demands for a thorough investigation are gaining momentum as the state braces for further political confrontation.