BOLPUR:Amid sporadic violence in Birbhum’s 11 Assembly constituencies on Sunday, the BJP demanded countermanding of polls even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi while campaigning attacked Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and predicted her defeat for feeling insecure and challenging the Election Commission.
At Dubrajpur, Nanur, Ilambazar and here, opposition party polling agents were allegedly attacked by TMC workers and suffered head injuries. In many polling booths, there were no opposition party agents and BJP agents were targeted. Birbhum district TMC president Anubrata Mondal continued to defy the EC and entered a polling station to vote with the TMC logo on his kurta. After voting he said, “It was an unintentional mistake. Why should I apologise? The presiding officer could have objected.” The EC said in Kolkata that it was contemplating strong action against Anubrata.
BJP candidate from Mayureshwar Assembly constituency Locket Chatterjee challenged presiding officers in various polling booths as her polling agents were evicted allegedly by TMC men. Locket, a descendant of Sri Ramkrishna Parahamhansa Deb lost her temper inside a booth and asked the presiding officer: “How much money did you get from TMC to destroy Bengal? Say it on record before TV cameras that the polls were rigged. All these recordings will reach New Delhi.
“In each booth, there are more than three TMC agents. While one is inside, others are threatening voters and forcibly voting on their behalf. It seems to be a fiefdom of the TMC,” she alleged. Locket said that the EC should have arrested Anubrata to ensure free and fair elections. The EC had ordered surveillance on Anubrata but the magistrate tailing him lost his way as the TMC leader went around the town to various polling stations. Anubrata who went on a motorcycle of one of his security guards said, “I had gone to vote. It’s not my business to know about the magistrate who kept coming behind me.” Modi during his third visit to West Bengal for campaign predicted Mamata’s defeat saying her challenge to the EC displayed her insecurity as she had created miseries for the people during her five-year rule. “The EC served a show cause notice to her in her capacity as TMC chief. But the reply was given by the state chief secretary. It’s total violation of election model code of conduct,” he said addressing public meetings at Krishnagar and Kolkata.
“She is challenging the EC which is an autonomous body and thereby trampling democracy. She is also threatening saying after May 19 she would see them. One must remember that Indira Gandhi was debarred for six years to contest the polls for similar reasons. She is feeling insecure and that indicates she has accepted defeat,” Modi said to the crowd amid thunderous applause.
79.70% turnout in second phase of polling in 56 assembly constituencies
Mondal Shows off TMC Logo
Birbhum district TMC president Anubrata Mondal continued to defy the EC and entered a polling station to vote with the TMC logo on his kurta. “It was an unintentional mistake. Why should I apologise?” he asked.
Locket Upset About ‘Rigging’
BJP candidate from Mayureshwar Assembly constituency Locket Chatterjee challenged presiding officers in various polling booths as her polling agents were evicted allegedly by TMC men.
