Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir on Thursday alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress had bribed several of his party candidates to keep them out of the electoral fray.
Kabir, who cast his vote early in the day, also faced protests from Trinamool Congress supporters at a polling booth in Shibnagar village under Naoda Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district. The protesters raised “go back” slogans and branded him a “BJP agent”, leading to tension in the area.
Led by local TMC leaders, the demonstrators surrounded Kabir’s vehicle. He is an MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad and has floated his own party after being suspended from the TMC in December last year over his remarks proposing a Babri-like mosque.
AJUP activists, meanwhile, alleged that a booth-level president of their party was assaulted at his residence by ruling party workers. Central forces deployed at the spot intervened and brought the situation under control, officials said.
Earlier in the day, Kabir alleged large-scale “political inducements” by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming that 27 of his candidates had been “purchased” for amounts ranging from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. He said his party had started with 142 candidates but was now down to contesting in 115 seats.
Earlier in the day, Kabir accused TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of indulging in large-scale appeasement of Hindus.
On the BJP’s prospects, Kabir said, “Once the results are out on May 4, you will see the political reality unfold.”
(With inputs from PTI)