Overview
- Ritesh Tiwari was captured in a widely shared video vowing to deny work and certificates to Muslims in his constituency because he claims they did not vote for him.
- Tiwari confirmed to The Indian Express that he made the comments and said he would prioritize limited resources for people who supported him.
- A BJP state spokesperson said he had not seen the video and could not comment, and there has been no reported party discipline or legal action so far.
- Opposition figures, including Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed and CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty, called the stance unconstitutional and against democratic norms.
- Tiwari won Kashipur-Belgachia by a narrow margin over TMC’s Atin Ghosh (68,368 to 66,717), and critics warn that refusing to issue local certificates could block residents from essential documents and benefits.