The Trinamool Congress has appealed to the Election Commission of India to take action against and restrain BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah from making political statements during official events in areas that were going to November 13 by-elections.

“We seek your urgent attention regarding a serious breach of the model code of conduct by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which took place during the inauguration event of the integrated check post, passenger terminal and Maitri Dwar at Petrapole in North 24 Parganas,” The TMC wrote to the ECI seeking its “appropriate directions/orders to stakeholders concerned to further restrain Shah and the BJP leaders from violating the MCC guidelines ahead of the bye-elections.”

Shah had during inauguration of an passenger-cum-goods terminal at the land port on the India-Bangladesh border appealed to the people for bringing a “parivartan (change)” in 2026 Assembly elections.

He said that Bengal was in turmoil and the main reason of that disturbance was trans-border infiltration. So “if you want to bring back a lasting peace in Bengal you will have to stop trans-border infiltration which cannot take place without a political change … and in order to do so you will have to bring about a parivartan (change) in Bengal.”

Referring to his statements in Petropole --- which falls in North 24 Parganas district where two Assembly constituencies of Haroa and Naihati were going to by-polls --- the TMC said, “the politically charged remarks – calling for a ‘parivartan’ in 2026 – were in no way connected to the event in question.”

As Shah “violated the directives” he should be served with “show-cause” notice, the TMC said.

The BJP hit back saying that the Home Minister had not made his comments within the area of any poll-bound constituency. “The TMC is trying to create controversy because they know that

They are gradually losing grounds beneath their feat,” a State BJP leader said.

Six seats of Bengal going to by-polls are Sitai, Madarihat in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts of North Bengal, Haroa, Naihati in North 24 Parganas, Taldangra in Bankura and Medinipur in West Midnapore districts.