West Bengal Assembly elections 2016: In Anubrata’s lair, a twist in tale – No TMC poll agents at 8 booths

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There were no TMC polling agents in at least eight polling stations in the district. While, there was no official response, sources in the party said the “absence of TMC polling agents at Papuri in Nannoor was engineered” by rebel party leader Kajal Sheikh —a known detractor of Anubrata within the TMC. While his brother Sheikh Shahnaz is a TMC MLA from Burdwan district, Kajal has been providing “informal support” to the CPM.

When the news reached the party leadership in Kolkata, state urban development minister Firhad Hakim reportedly called up Anubrata and asked him to “take care” of the situation. Mondal, in turn, apprised TMC candidate from the area, Gadadhar Hazra, who visited the spot personally and manged to place party’s poll agents at the said booth, but only after over seven hours of polling process was over.

Meanwhile, some “unauthorised TMC workers” were forced out of different booths in Labhpur. They started pelting brickbats at the central forces, injuring one. In retaliation, central forces resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob. At least eight persons were injured in the process. They were taken to Labhpur Primary Health Centre and were let off after primary medical attention.

“The central forces have beaten up our men mercilessly and injured eight persons seriously. They have been acting on the instructions of the Opposition parties, who have resorted to slander and allegations knowing that they don’t stand a chance here,” said TMC candidate from Labhpur, Manirul Islam.

CPM candidate Syed Mahfuzul Karim, however, blamed the TMC.

“Police had done their job sensibly and with responsibility. The TMC cadres were not allowed to jam the booths and rig the polls. There had been booths where even the presiding officers were not doing their duties well. Police and central forces had forced them out of the booths. In reply, they attacked the forces with brickbats and damaged a police car as well,” Karim claimed. He said they have complained to the EC about the irregularties via the Samadhan app.

Actor-turned-BJP candidate from Mayureswar, Locket Chatterjee, visited several booths and got into an argument with a presiding officer and even central forces personnel. “One of the presiding officers had turned a blind eye to rigging. In at least 64 booths, our polling agents had not been allowed to sit inside,” Chatterjee alleged.

BJP demanded a re-poll in nine Assembly constituencies of Birbhum and submitted a petition at the EC office in New Delhi.

At Ilambazar supporters of TMC and BJP clashed leaving several supporters of both the parties, injured. At Nannoor, TMC supporters were accused of threatening BJP candidate Tarakeswar Saha. Local TMC leaders, however, brushed aside the allegations.