72% turnout amid allegations of EVM tampering, threats
KOLKATA: Polling for three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal during the second phase of the general elections was held peacefully with a voter turnout of nearly 72%, amid allegations of tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and intimidation of voters, and an altercation between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers near one of the polling booths in Balurghat, officials aware of the details said.
Besides Balurghat, voting was held in Darjeeling and Raiganj constituencies. The state saw an overall turnout of 71.84%, according to data provided by the Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app at 11pm. “Voting was held peacefully with no reports of any large-scale violence,” a polling official said, seeking anonymity.
“The poll panel received complaints of EVM tampering and voters being intimidated,” the official added.
Forty-seven candidates, including state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, were in the fray in this phase, with 5.117 million people eligible to exercise their franchise. Altogether 5,298 polling stations were set up across the three constituencies, polling officials said.
The data shared by the poll body showed the voter turnout was 72.30% in Balurghat, 71.4% in Darjeeling and 71.8% in Raiganj.
In Tapan at Balurghat, Majumdar alleged that he was greeted with ‘go back’ slogans near a polling booth he was visiting. He was also seen spotted having an altercation with the state police and TMC supporters.
“Even today, the TMC made a failed attempt to stop voters. They tried to intimidate our agents. Majumdar was stopped from entering a polling station. Overall, we are happy with today’s polling,” said BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya.
“Majumdar knows he will lose this time. The BJP hasn’t been able to post agents in all booths. Hence, he is staging such drama,” said state minister Biplab Mitra.