Bengal civic polls: Polling at 71% amid ‘isolated incidents of violence’

Though largely peaceful, the civic polls on Saturday were marred by isolated incidents of violence. In Asansol’s Jamuria area, the CPM alleged that TMC supporters allegedly fired shots outside polling stations number 112 and 114. CPM candidate Dayamoy Bauri said TMC workers made attempts to capture the polling booths but their supporters resisted such attempts. “As they could not capture the booths, they fired shots while fleeing the area. I congratulate my party workers for putting up a resistance,” the CPM candidate said.

The TMC however denied such claims. Local TMC leader Laltu Barik said, “This is a baseless allegation. There was a wedding near the polling booths. Sound crackers were burst which were mistaken as gun shots.”

Elections to these four municipal corporations were last held in 2015. Elections could not be held in time due to Covid-19 pandemic. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

At Burnpur in Asansol, a CPM camp office was vandalised allegedly by TMC workers. Also in Asansol, BJP candidate Adarsha Sharma came under an alleged attack from TMC workers. He was seen bleeding from his head. In Biddhannagar, CPM candidate Sukanta Bandyopadhyay also alleged a similar attack.

Opposition parties further alleged that the TMC brought fake voters in Biddhannagar and Asansol. In several booths of Bidhannagar, alleged fake voters were spotted standing in queue to cast their votes.

In ward 31, ‘fake’ voters were spotted hiding in the toilet of a polling booth. The BJP claimed that the police remained mute spectators while their candidates chased away the ‘fake’ voters.

In Asansol, Chaitali Tiwari, a BJP candidate and wife of former mayor Jitendra Tiwari, was allegedly heckled outside a polling booth. The TMC has denied the allegation accusing the BJP of staging a drama.

The police issued a notice to Jitendra Tiwari asking him to keep his armed security guards outside while visiting polling stations.

Police also detained BJP candidates Subhasish Das and Biswajit Mondal in Siliguri for their alleged involvement in stoking trouble outside polling booths.

Meanwhile, West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) directed the police to stop the entry of outsiders in Bidhannagar from New Town and Beliaghata entry points. The directive was issued after the poll panel received information that outsiders were trying to enter Bidhannagar to influence polling.

However, the state poll panel said polling was largely peaceful barring one or two incidents of violence.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee congratulated the people of four civic bodies for exercising their franchise. “The polling was peaceful. People were able to exercise their franchise. We thank them for taking part in these elections,” Chatterjee said.

The BJP, however, termed the election as a farce. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, “This cannot be called an election. The TMC, with the help of the police, turned it into a farce. They brought fake voters, attacked our candidates and rigged booths to win the election. It is unfortunate that a free, fair and peaceful election cannot be held in West Bengal.”

In Bidhannagar, a total of 203 candidates are contesting in 41 wards, while in Siliguri 200 contestants are in fray in 47 wards. In Siliguri, there are 594 polling stations of which 89 are sensitive booths.

In Chandannagar, there are 120 candidates vying to be councillors from 33 wards, while Asansol has 106 wards for which a total of 431 candidates are in fray. A total of 1182 polling stations were put together in Asansol.