Incidents of violence, including firing and bombing, were reported on Saturday during voting for the elections to the municipal corporations of Bidhannagar, Asansol, Siliguri and Chandannagar in West Bengal.
There were two incidents of firing and bombing in the Asansol civic body area. In Jamuria, CPI(M) candidate’s daughter Lipi Das alleged in a Facebook Live program that her father was threatened and fired upon by TMC workers.
Meanwhile, in Dhaka area of Asansol, the BJP alleged that there was fierce firing outside the polling booth. The saffron party alleged that their candidate was thrashed in Asansol number 15 ward. The incident of bomb blast was also alleged in Kulti Barakar area. However, TMC has denied the allegations.
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said, ‘They don’t know any system, they were stopping me from voting. Violence is taking place and the administration is trying to stop the BJP leaders.
The Bidhan Nagar Nigam, which has a history of major violence, has also been accused by BJP and CPM of jamming the booth. West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Adhir Chowdhury also said such reports of violence once again proved that “local elections in Bengal are a farce”.
Meanwhile, polling was peaceful in Chandannagar and Siliguri.
Former mayor of Bidhanagar and former BJP leader Sabyasachi Dutta denied the claims of violence. Dutta, who rejoined the TMC, said, “The Election Commission has looked into the matter and there has been no violence.”
TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “Polling was conducted peacefully. BJP knows that they will lose, that’s why they are making such allegations.
The Election Commission has said that zero tolerance towards violence has been maintained and strict action has been taken.
A section of political commentators has noted that reports of violence once again prove that Bengal elections cannot be violence-free.
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