Sporadic tension was reported from various parts of West Bengal — as there were arguments and near clashes between supporters and workers of Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party — on Monday in connection with the assembly by-elections in Karimpur, Kaliyaganj and Kharagpur.
However, there is overall peaceful election going on in the three constituencies in presence of 20 companies of Central paramilitary forces. The results will be announced on November 28.
In Karimpur, BJP candidate Jay Prakash Majumdar was alleged to have moved close to the electronic voting machine inside a booth and was later taken out by jawans of Central paramilitary forces. The Election Commission has sought a report in the matter.
Trinamool’s candidate Bimalendu Singha Ray said that Majumder was trying to create a dramatic situation by visiting the booths.
In another booth — in Karimpur’s Sahebpara — Majumdar was shown black flags by Trinamool supporters who also shouted “go back” slogans. A scuffle soon followed between supporters of the two parties. Police resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control.
The BJP has accused a Trinamool agent of kidnapping a BJP agent as soon as the voting started in a booth of the same constituency. Trinamool has, however, denied the allegation. There were also allegations of “fake voters” casting multiple votes in presence of the presiding officer.
In Kharagpur, the BJP has raised allegations of a glass fitted to a wall of a booth. They said that the reflection of the EVM could be seen clearly on the glass. Later, paramilitary forces covered the glass with a cloth.
In Kaliyaganj, the BJP candidate was seen assisting his wife to the polling counter, which is against election rules. The candidate said that they have been casting vote this way for years now. The Election Commission has removed the presiding officer of that booth.
