Bengal’s mid-phase crisis

Uluberia
Trinamool vs CPM
One person was killed and another was injured as CPM and Trinamool workers clashed in Amta. Twenty-year-old Sheikh Malhar Jamadar was killed outside a polling booth in Chandrapur. CPM claimed that he was its party worker.

Murshidabad
Congress vs CPM
Locals gheraoed the vehicle of animal husbandry minister Anisur Rehman,who is the CPM candidate from here. Locals alleged that Rehman was trying to intimidate voters in Daspara and Shantinagar. According to eyewitnesses,locals surrounded his car and the minister was forced to flee. “I went there because CPM supporters were not being allowed to vote by the Opposition. There was an agitation and then I returned back,” Rehman said.

Hooghly
CPM vs Trinamool
Voting was peaceful. The turnout was also high as at various polling booths the voting percentage ranged between 70 per cent and 90 per cent. According to Trinamool candidate Ratna De Nag,the polling was peaceful but violence against party workers were reported from Dhaniakhali and Bhaloghar. In Singur also voting was peaceful with high a turnout. One person Sunit Kumar Laha died of sunstroke while he was standing in the queue to cast his vote. A large turnout at the polling booths was reported in the morning but as the temparature shot up,the crowd receded.

Krishnanagar
CPM vs Trinamool vs BJP
Some pockets of this constituency witnessed minor disturbances and inter-party clashes. In Chapra Assembly constituency,incidents of bomb hurling took place. At Shantipur,around five people,reportedly Trinamool workers,were injured in clashes with the CPM. At some places,people alleged that polling officers were biased. Voting was discontinued in some booths for some time due to the malfunctioning of EVMs. The district magistrate warned Trinamool candidate Tapas Pal from influencing voters.

Ranaghat
CPM vs Trinamool
Polling was generally peaceful here except for some minor clashes between CPM and Trinamool supporters in Shalpukur. According to the candidates,polling at different stations went smoothly throughout the day. “No major report of incidents has come to my attention. However,in Shalpurkur under my constituency there were some Polling turnout has been satisfactory with some booths recording 90 per cent turnout,” said Trinamool candidate Sucharu Halder.

Tamluk
CPM vs Trinamool
Both Trinamool candidate Suvendu Adhikari and CPM’s Lakshman Seth visited various areas in Haldia. Poll in Nandigram passed off peacefully despite some stray incidents and tension. According to the official estimate,the turnout will cross 80 percent. CPM has demanded repolling in 58 booths where they failed to provide their agents. “I am happy with the polling. In Nandigram people voted freely,” said Adhikari. Police said stray incidents of violence were reported from Adhikaripara,Gokulnagar,Garupara,Takapura and Reapara.

Sreerampore
CPM vs Trinamool
Trinamool candidate Kalyan Bandyopadhyay was allegedly manhandled by a group of youths in Jangipara Assembly constituency. Bandyopadhay claimed that a group led by local CPM leader Chanchal Chatterjee physically assaulted him. Bandyopadhyay had earlier landed himself in a spot after he made degrading comments about Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattcharjee to a private television channel.

“I have been physically assaulted and abused by the youths. All of them belong to the CPM. They threatened me and abused me. We complained to the police and district administration. But they remain a silent spectator. I will file a complaint with the EC,” he said.

Kanthi
CPM vs Trinamool
The district administration has confirmed that about 87 per cent votes had been polled in the constituency. Some stray incidents of violence have been reported from Khejuri. In Taldih in Contai sub-division,Trinamool alleged that its seven party workers were injured in clashes with the CPM.

Howrah
CPM vs Trinamool
Trinamool candidate Ambika Banerjee alleged that CPM rigged the polls enmasse in the entire constituency especially in North Howrah and Bally. At a booth in Bankra,Trinamool supporters allegedly broke an EVM machine. Parul Bala Das,a 76-year-old woman died of a heat stroke while she had come to cast her vote.

Arambagh
CPM vs Congress
Polling was generally peaceful with the administration confirming that around 80 per cent votes had been polled. Voting was delayed at 14 places as polling officers had to replace the EVM machines due to malfunctioning.

Asansol
CPM vs Trinamool
Violence marred polls here. One person was killed and ten,including three police personnel,were injured when a group of armed men entered a polling booth area in Asansol Lok Sabha constituency and began hurling bombs and firing indiscriminately. Police said the incident took place at 12.30 pm,following which polling was suspended at the booth for over an hour. CPM candidate and sitting MP Bansa Gopal Chowdhury said Trinamool workers entered the booth in Kanyapur and opened fire on the voters. “They even tried to kill our supporter in hospital after he was admitted with injuries. In the Pandobeshwar area,the EC-appointed observer roamed the area in the company of Trinamool leaders. I have written to the Election Commission. We have recorded 200 complaints over the past few days,” Chowdhury said.

Burdwan-Durgapur
CPM vs Congress
Polling remained peaceful with 55 per cent votes being polled at 3.00 pm. Voters lined up outside polling centres and brisk voting was reported at urban centres.

Burdwan East
CPM vs Trinamool
In this newly-created constituency which replaced the erstwhile Katwa constituency,no untoward incidents were reported. Till 3.00 pm,51 per cent votes were registered.

Birbhum
CPM vs Trinamool
Polling was generally peaceful in this constituency where Tollywood actress Satabdi Roy took on CPM veteran Brojo Mukherjee. Roy has demanded repolling in one booth in Suri where she alleged that Trinamool agents were not allowed inside the booth. At four places,including Mohammed Bazaar,Suri and Khandogosh polling was delayed due to malfunctioning of EVM machines. On an average 74 per cent votes had been polled in the constituency.

Bolpur
CPM vs Trinamool
Polling was generally peaceful in this constituency that has been made into a reserved constituency after delimitation. Over 46 per cent of votes had been polled till 10 am. In two booths under Thupsura gram panchayat,rival parties clashed. Trinamool alleged that two of its workers have been injured. In two booths under Papuri gram panchayat,CPM supporters alleged that the Opposition did not allow their agents to enter the booth. CPM candidate Ram Chandra Dome has demanded a repoll in 17 booths while Opposition candidate Asit Mal has demanded repoll in 29 booths. Overall polling in this constituency was peaceful.