Voter8217;s Diary

Malini Hansda,an surrendered Maoist,was among those who voted at Ranibandh in Bankura district

Surrendered Maoist

Malini Hansda,an surrendered Maoist,was among those who voted at Ranibandh in Bankura district. She had been wanted for involvement in an attack on the Shilda EFR camp in February 2010 that left 24 people dead. Hansda,who is in judicial custody,was escorted to the booth by 40 members of the Special Operations Group on motorbikes. She had expressed her wish to vote and the SP arranged special permission and the Election Commission arranged the process. She was spared the need of standing in queue and left on a jawans motorbike the moment she had voted. It is my right and I feel conditions in my village can improve if the right candidate is elected, she said.

Deserted village

One part of Junglemahal where the fear of Maoists prevented a large turnout was Baghbinda village in Purulias Baghmundi constituency. Witness to one of the most gory incidents of Maoist violence last December when seven Forward Bloc activists were murdered ,the village has about 400 voters listed but only 17 of them had voted till 2.30 pm. The village is largely deserted with most having left their homes. Security forces making rounds of the village saw that villagers had deserted their homes, said DM Abanindranath Singh.

Too far to vote

Over 300 people of Belgaria village,part of Taldangra constituency in Bankura district,boycotted polling,citing problems in reaching the polling station. The polling station is 2.5 km away. It is very difficult to go there without a vehicle and we have decided to boycott the poll, village spokesman Dilip Singha Mohatpatra said. Block Development Officer Saugata Maity said because of problems,no vehicle could be arranged for the villagers. Not a single vote was cast in the polling booth for Belgaria vilagers.

Word of praise

Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi called up West Bengal chief electoral officer Sunil Kumar Gupta and congratulated him for the successful completion of the six-phase election in West Bengal. The final phase ended with voting in 14 seats in the Maoist-violence-hit districts of West Midnapore,Purulia and Bankura. The entire election process from April 18 passed off without major violence or loss of life . The CEC called and congratulated us, said the CEO,adding he had been tense for the final round and was relieved after it ended.

Tamil Nadu EVM

An EVM was found in a vehicle near a counting centre at Tirupur,leading to some tension. The vehicle had transpored furniture and other materials for counting of votes when agents of parties,particularly the AIADMK,stopped it at the gate. The agents,who were keeping vigil near the counting centre at L R G College,were surprised to notice the EVM amid the furniture and stopped the vehicle from going inside,police said. Senior district officials rushed to the spot and told the agents that the machine was for demonstration and to train counting officials and there was no problem in letting it inside,police said. However,the agents refused to accept the argument and reiterated their objection to taking it inside. The machine was then returned to the Taluk office,from where it had been brought.