Singh submitted a plea to the apex court seeking protection from arrest in several cases lodged against him by the state police
New Delhi: Arjun Singh, the BJP candidate from Barrackpore in Bengal on Wednesday got a nod from the supreme court to be present during the counting of votes on May 23.
Singh submitted a plea to the apex court seeking protection from arrest in several cases lodged against him by the state police.
The court has said in its judgment that Singh should not be arrested from May 23 to May 28.
Singh, who recently jumped ship from Trinamool to BJP, alleged that he was attacked by the Trinamool during polling in the state. Moreover, within hours of the BJP, a police complaint was lodged against Singh by leaders of TMC Youth Wing. His business associates were also attacked.
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Singh also came under fire when he said at least 100 TMC MLAs will join the BJP.
"Around 100 legislators from the ruling Trinamool Congress are ready to join the BJP," Singh, a four-time MLA from Bhatpara, said.
Meanwhile, most of the exit polls are indicating a big surge of seats for the BJP in Bengal.
According to the Times Now-VMR Exit Poll, the BJP is expected to win 11 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal with a greater vote share than it received in the 2014 general elections, which is nine more than its 2014 tally of 2 seats. The poll predicts that the saffron party will also see a significant increase in vote share.
Initial results of the News18-IPSOS exit poll, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is predicted to be the single-largest party in West Bengal, expected to triumph in 25-28 seats. The BJP is expected to pick up three to seven seats, which is an improvement from the two it won last time around. The Left parties, meanwhile, are predicted to have put in a dismal performance, failing to open their account in the state they ruled for 34 years.
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