In Cooch Behar and Kolkata, initial stages of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal witnessed sporadic outbreaks of hostility across the constituencies of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri as members of TMC and BJP engaged in altercations.
Both TMC and BJP submitted 80 and 39 grievances respectively within the early hours of voting, according to sources, mainly concerning Cooch Behar and Alipurduar constituencies.
“We have received some complaints; however, there were no immediate reports of violence,” stated a high-ranking officer from the CEO’s office.
Election Commission officials reported an average voter turnout surpassing 50% as of 1 pm.
BJP supporters were accused of attacking TMC workers in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar district, an area notorious for gunfire that claimed four lives during the 2021 Assembly Elections.
A local BJP figure claimed that five party workers were injured and required hospitalization due to assaults by TMC members in the Mathabhanga region.
Moreover, BJP workers claimed denial of entry into voting booths in the Chandmari area, alleging that TMC members were tampering with votes.
Television coverage indicated both TMC and BJP workers were embroiled in confrontations in Mathabhanga, leading to numerous injuries. TMC supporters accused the central forces of aiding BJP in manipulating votes in this locale. TMC further alleged that Bethguri block president Anant Barman was admitted to the hospital following an assault by BJP workers.
BJP MLA from Dagram Phulbari, Shikha Chatterjee, made accusations against TMC for creating disorder in the vicinity. Chatterjee alleged that the southern office was set ablaze and booth agents were barred from several locations.
Leaders of Barokodali gram panchayat TMC contended that BJP enforcers, led by their booth president, incited violence before they could arrive at polling booths 226 and 227 earlier today.
Similarly, TMC raised concerns about voter intimidation in the Alipurduar constituency, though the district BJP unit refuted these claims.
In a curious episode, Basanti Das, a voter from booth no. 15/186 in Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, discovered her voter ID labeled her as deceased in the electoral rolls when she attempted to vote. As a result, presiding officer Himadri Sekhar Das denied her the right to vote.
North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha accused the BJP and central forces of spreading fear, attacking TMC workers, and manipulating votes.
On the contrary, the district BJP unit pointed fingers at TMC, accusing them of threatening voters and assaulting BJP workers. They also alleged that TMC workers abducted their members and barred them from entering booths.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called upon voters to participate in the electoral process, urging them to support a government committed to poverty eradication, preventing infiltration, and fighting corruption.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh responded to Shah’s statement by asserting the responsibility of preventing infiltration lies with the Union Home Minister’s office and BSF.
“The people of Bengal are voting for @AITCofficial because of @MamataOfficial’s projects excelling in poverty alleviation,” Ghosh stated. “The Center has not released owed funds. Additionally, preventing infiltration falls under Amit Shah’s and the BSF’s jurisdiction. Regarding corruption, BJP is exceptional. Lastly, TMC honors women, unlike BJP-controlled states with cases like Unnao, Hathras, and Prayagraj.”
Governor C V Ananda Bose passed on the grievances to the Election Commission.
West Bengal Governor monitored the first phase of elections from the ‘Peace Room’ at the Raj Bhavan, officials said. Complaints received at the ‘Peace Room’ were relayed to the Election Commission of India for necessary follow-up.
Governor Bose offered prayers at Kalighat Temple for an untroubled election. “I will execute my duties as Governor. The ECI holds the duty to ensure a fair and impartial election,” he informed reporters.
The ‘Peace Room’ received complaints regarding voter coercion and EVM tampering, according to an official at Raj Bhavan.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh criticized the Governor, accusing him of orchestrating an “anti-TMC campaign” under the guise of ‘Peace Room.’ “The governor is opposing TMC under the banner of Peace Room. He is not an Election Commission member. During elections, the Commission holds responsibility for maintaining order, while Raj Bhavan plays no role in the matter,” Ghosh wrote on X.