The Nandigram Assembly by-election, held amidst unprecedented security arrangements on Monday, was by and large peaceful save a few incidents of clashes between rival parties. Nearly 85 per cent votes, including those of a large number of women were polled till 1700 hours.
The polls in Malda were also peaceful for most part, but Congress old timer ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury leveled allegations of poll rigging against the CPI-M, Chowdhury’s niece Mausam Noor was in the fray on a Congress ticket.
At a few booths in Nandigram, polling was still continuing after the prescribed time limit owing to the long queues of voters.
“I have received five complaints from the CPI-M alleging either that their men were illegally prevented from exercising their franchise or that their electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) were snatched. Four electronic voting machines were found to be defective soon after the commencement of polls and these were replaced within an hour,” said Choten Lama, the district election officer and district magistrate.
According to a senior police official eight persons were arrested from different areas for creating nuisance.
The polling was relatively slow in the morning but gathered momentum as the day progressed.
With accusations flying thick, trouble erupted at booth no. 75 of Reyapara in Nandigram after a group of miscreants, allegedly backed by CPI-M, beat up a family of Trinamul Congress supporters.
The three women and an eight-year-old boy injured in the incident wee admitted to the local Reyapara Hospital.
Trinamul leader Subhendu Adhikari contended that CPI-M cadres beat up their supporters at Ranichawk and threatened their supporters with dire consequences when they turned up to vote at two booths in the constituency.
CPI-M was quick in its response with district secretariat member Ashok Guria saying his party did not dare field at three booths of Jalpai and Mirzapur areas owing to the death threats issued by the Trinamul.
“Since last night, the Trinamul has unleashed terror on our supporters residing at Sonachura, Kalicharanpur and Kendemari anchals. Our supporters under booths no. 168 to 176 were either beaten up or forced to stay in their houses during the polls,” he added.
CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose alleged that Trinamul Congress resorted to terror and intimidation to prevent many voters from voting in the Nandigram bypoll.
Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, said voters turned out in large numbers despite the CPI-M’s attempts to rig the elections.
The polls in Malda were also peaceful for most part, but Congress old timer ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury leveled allegations of poll rigging against the CPI-M, Chowdhury’s niece Mausam Noor was in the fray on a Congress ticket.
At a few booths in Nandigram, polling was still continuing after the prescribed time limit owing to the long queues of voters.
“I have received five complaints from the CPI-M alleging either that their men were illegally prevented from exercising their franchise or that their electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) were snatched. Four electronic voting machines were found to be defective soon after the commencement of polls and these were replaced within an hour,” said Choten Lama, the district election officer and district magistrate.
According to a senior police official eight persons were arrested from different areas for creating nuisance.
The polling was relatively slow in the morning but gathered momentum as the day progressed.
With accusations flying thick, trouble erupted at booth no. 75 of Reyapara in Nandigram after a group of miscreants, allegedly backed by CPI-M, beat up a family of Trinamul Congress supporters.
The three women and an eight-year-old boy injured in the incident wee admitted to the local Reyapara Hospital.
Trinamul leader Subhendu Adhikari contended that CPI-M cadres beat up their supporters at Ranichawk and threatened their supporters with dire consequences when they turned up to vote at two booths in the constituency.
CPI-M was quick in its response with district secretariat member Ashok Guria saying his party did not dare field at three booths of Jalpai and Mirzapur areas owing to the death threats issued by the Trinamul.
“Since last night, the Trinamul has unleashed terror on our supporters residing at Sonachura, Kalicharanpur and Kendemari anchals. Our supporters under booths no. 168 to 176 were either beaten up or forced to stay in their houses during the polls,” he added.
CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose alleged that Trinamul Congress resorted to terror and intimidation to prevent many voters from voting in the Nandigram bypoll.
Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, said voters turned out in large numbers despite the CPI-M’s attempts to rig the elections.
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