Congress leader flags voter intimidation

Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya on Sunday welcomed EC’s decision to hold a two-phase election in West Bengal, but expressed concern over whether voters would be able to exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation.

The former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief also said he had raised the issue of voter intimidation during his interaction with the full bench of the Election Commission (EC) during its recent visit to the State.

“I welcome the Election Commission’s move to hold the polls in West Bengal in two phases.

But my only concern is that the electors can cast their votes freely and without any fear,” Bhattacharya said.

He alleged that in past elections, voters could not cast their ballots despite polls being conducted in multiple phases.

“I have seen many elections when voters could not cast their votes even when there were six or seven phases of elections,” he added.

The poll body on Sunday announced that assembly elections to the 294 seats in Bengal will be held in two phases - April 23 and April 29, with the counting scheduled on May 4.