Politics · India Bureau
BJP funded content creators behind Kolkata restaurant row, says Trinamool
The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of funding YouTubers and influencers involved in a contentious beef restaurant incident in Kolkata, alleging the party orchestrated religious polarisation during Bengal's election campaign. The BJP has defended the payments as legitimate political expenditure.
LSN India ·
Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh levelled accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday, claiming the saffron party financed content creators and media personalities who featured in a beef restaurant controversy that roiled Kolkata. Ghosh cited financial records of payments made to YouTubers, influencers, a radio jockey, and actors, asserting these funds were part of a coordinated effort to manufacture religious discord during West Bengal's election campaign.
The allegation centres on a viral incident involving a Kolkata restaurant that became the subject of inflammatory social media content. Ghosh contended that by funding creators who amplified the controversy, the BJP deliberately engineered a polarising narrative to consolidate its voter base along religious lines ahead of polls.
Responding to the accusations, BJP state spokesperson Debjit Sarkar defended the payments as routine political expenditure within permissible limits. Sarkar maintained that the party's financial transactions followed established electoral guidelines and dismissed suggestions of impropriety or orchestrated campaigns.
The row underscores deepening tensions between the two parties over campaign tactics in Bengal, a crucial electoral battleground. The incident highlights ongoing debates about the role of digital influencers in shaping political narratives during Indian elections, and questions about funding transparency in social media-driven campaigns.