Political Vendetta or Justice? The Criminal Cases Against BJP's Nishith Pramanik

Nishith Pramanik, BJP candidate from West Bengal's Mathabhanga, has 16 pending criminal cases, many registered after joining the BJP. His affidavit reveals charges including murder and rioting, yet no convictions. The opposition claims these are due to political vendetta. Pramanik lost the Cooch Behar seat in 2024.

Nishith Pramanik, the BJP candidate from Mathabhanga in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district, faces 16 criminal cases, including serious charges like murder and rioting. However, he has not been convicted in any of these cases, according to his affidavit.

The opposition accuses the ruling party of using political vendetta to fabricate these charges against Pramanik, who previously served as the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. These accusations primarily came after his defection from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP in 2019.

Despite the ongoing cases, Pramanik contested the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat again in 2024 but lost to the TMC. The latest charges against him pertain to preparation for dacoity and possession of illegal arms, with many cases registered post-2018.

(With inputs from agencies.)