The by-elections for two lok Sabha constituencies and one Assembly seat came to an end on Saturday amid complaints of massive rigging and false votes, sources said.
The BJP candidate of Coochbehar sat on a dharna at Coochbehar DM’s office demanding re-polling. “The Trinamool drove away all our polling agents, beat them up and scared voters most of who remained indoors,” BJP candidate HC Burman said adding the police remained a mute spectator.
The TMC leaders however said the “people love Mamata Banerjee so none have volunteered to become polling agents of the Opposition parties. This is not our fault.”
Similarly down south in Tamluk seat which was vacated following the resignation of Subhendu Adhikary who joined the State Cabinet and currently is Bengal Transport Minister the polls allegedly were rendered into a farce even as the BJP demanded re-poll in 326 booths out of 600.
The CPI(M) also demanded re-poll in both the seats complaining the police had looked the other way while the Trinamool workers rigged polls. At Manteshwar Assembly seat the Congress candidate withdrew from the fray alleging rampant threat and rigging. By 3 pm about 68 percent voters had exercised their franchise when reports last came in.
“There is no point contesting where everything happens at the behest and order of the Chief Minister and the police turns blind eye to all the violence done by the ruling party. It is not polls. It is farce,” said Adhir Chowdhury, PCC president.
Altogether, 39 companies of CRPF personnel have been deployed along with large number of state police personnel to ensure fool proof security.
An electorate of 3,524,977, including 1,689,735 women and 38 from the third gender, are eligible to choose their representatives from among 23 candidates vying for honours in Cooch Behar (Reserved-Scheduled Castes) and Tamluk parliamentary constituencies and Manteshwar Assembly seat.
An electorate of 3,524,977, including 1,689,735 women and 38 from the third gender, are eligible to choose their representatives from among 23 candidates vying for honours in Cooch Behar (Reserved-Scheduled Castes) and Tamluk parliamentary constituencies and Manteshwar assembly seat. Counting will take place on Tuesday.