Trinamool has found itself in the middle of a political storm after Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed was spotted campaigning for the party in Raiganj on Monday. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had then sought a report from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) inquiring whether Ahmed had violated any visa conditions.
After the report was delivered, the MHA ordered Ferdous to leave India and his VISA was cancelled. He has been blacklisted as well. However, it appears Ferdous wasn’t the only Bangladeshi national campaigning for the TMC in West Bengal.
Gazi Abdun Noor, a Bangladeshi tele-serial actor, was seen at Dum Dum, during TMC candidate Sougata Roy’s roadshow on the same day. The actor could be seen with senior party leader Madan Mitra, who has become a raging sensation on social media of late.
#LokSabhaElections2019: A major election controversy in West Bengal as a Bangladeshi actor campaigns for TMC candidate from Dumdum. @BJP4India complains to the Election Commission.#ElectionsWithTimes #ElectionsWithMirror pic.twitter.com/PXqfTWme21
— Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) April 16, 2019
Gazi Noor is reported to have said, “I have not spoken a word in the campaign yesterday. I met TMC leader Madan Mitra on Monday after many years. I did not realize initially that he was taking me to a roadshow. I did not even board Sougata Roy’s vehicle as I am aware I can’t be a part of the Indian Election process. I was with Madan Mitra in an open jeep.”
While the BJP has registered a complaint with the Election Commission over the matter, Trinamool continues to maintain that they have done nothing wrong. Madan Mitra was dismissive about the involvement of Bangladeshi nationals in the Indian election process.
“I don’t know whether the actor participated in the rally or was invited by the candidate. But I don’t think there is any violation of the model code. The code says a foreigner cannot be a candidate but I think there is no harm if anybody participates in campaigning. I don’t see any violation of the MCC,” Mitra said.
