Kolkata, Oct 6 (IANS) : The average polling percentage for the bypolls to Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district and the Rejinagar seat in Murshidabad district of West Bengal had been recorded at 19.47
In the case of Nandigram, the polling percentage till 9 a.m. has been recorded at 20.89. And, in Rejinagar, the polling percentage in the same period was 18.05.
Political observers feel that the voting percentage in the first two hours has been impressive, considering that voters’ enthusiasm for bypolls is generally lower than what is seen in general elections.
Barring stray incidents reported in Nandigram and Rejinagar, the polling process has, so far, been peaceful in the first two hours.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, had sought a report from the Murshidabad district administration about the arrest of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder and legislator, Humayun Kabir, accused of constantly threatening the police and even grabbing an on-duty police officer’s collar.
“Kabir’s son, Golam Nabi Azad, is the candidate for Rejinagar bypoll. Kabir is not the candidate. He is neither the polling agent of his son. So, he has no authority to move from one booth to the other and make provocative statements. He violated the rules since morning. So, he had been arrested,” said a district police officer.
The CPI(M) has alleged that its polling agents were not being allowed to enter some booths in the Dadpur area of Rejinagar. The Left has alleged that their agents were not being allowed to sit in booths 112, 113, 114, and 122.
Mild tension was also reported from Nandigram after the Congress candidate there, Milan Pradhan, alleged that his polling agents were forcefully driven out of the polling booths by the BJP supporters, with the Central forces personnel remaining mute spectators.
However, the BJP candidate from Nandigram, Hasirani Rath, denied the allegations. “In Nandigram, the opposition parties are suffering from a survival crisis, and so they are making false allegations,” she said.
Congress has already lodged a complaint on this count with the office of the CEO, West Bengal.
Police have also arrested Nandigram Block-1 Congress president, Sheikh Asraful Tulla. Congress alleged that he was unnecessarily detained during the voting. “There is no such thing as democracy in the area now. The concerned authorities are being informed about this incident,” said a district Congress leader.
