Sporadic violence mars bypolls in Bengal, turnout 70%; Opposition accuses TMC of rigging

In Jagaddal, adjoining the Naihati constituency where polling was underway, a TMC worker was shot dead. While police said the TMC worker’s murder was not linked to the by-elections, the EC has sought a report from the district administration.

Meanwhile, several complaints were lodged to the EC, mainly by the Opposition parties. The EC said that it has received 80 complaints.

Citing the incident in Madarihat where the car of party candidate Rahul Lohar was allegedly vandalised while he was visiting a polling booth, the BJP alleged that their candidates and polling agents were being harassed and intimidated by the ruling TMC workers.

At a booth in Gosainmari area of Sitai Assembly seat, local TMC leader Motiur Rehman allegedly threatened a polling agent. The video has gone viral.“I give you 30 minutes to leave. Or I will kill you,” Rehman could be heard saying in presence of Jagdish Prasad Basunia, Lok Sabha MP from Cooch Behar in the purported video.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, shared videos on X, alleging that bike-borne miscreants were seen threatening BJP workers in Sitai on Tuesday night. “This is the illustration of ‘Real Democracy’ under Mamata’s Rule. TMC lumpens are visiting BJP workers’ homes in Sitai Assembly constituency and threatening them before the by-election,” Adhikari said on X.

“Mamata’s police are adopting desperate measures to influence the voting process…” he said. TMC minister Rathin Ghosh said, “The Central forces are working as BJP agents. The Opposition has no connection with the people. That is why they failed to deploy polling agents in all booths.”