While clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress workers and security personnel outside Jamuria polling booth in Asansol of West Bengal, villagers boycotted polls at Jemua's polling booth number 222 & 226 in Asansol due to the absence of central forces at the polling station. Polling has been suspended at the polling station as voters are protesting.
In a separate incident, BJP candidate Babul Supriyo's car was vandalized by Trinamool Congress workers. Visuals showed Babul Supriyo sitting in a car with the rear windows smashed.
"Voters are not being allowed to vote," alleged Babul Supriyo. "Our fight is to establish democracy. It is shameful that I am saying this in a democratic country," he told reporters.
He said he would be on the road and visit every polling station where trouble was reported. "I will take central forces with me. People are saying give us central forces, let us vote," he alleged.
Speaking on the incident, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Asansol Babul Supriyo said that he will himself take the central forces to that polling station. Surpiyo added that is very good that people in West Bengal are aware&they want central forces so that they can cast their vote. This is why Mamata Banerjee is scared.
The polling is currently taking place at Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Bardhaman - Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum Lok Sabha seats for which Election Commission has set up 15,277 polling booths.
A TMC polling agent said, 'no BJP polling agent was present at the booth.' BJP MP candidate from Asansol, Babul Supriyo's car was also vandalised outside the polling station.
According to the EC's press release, 68 candidates are contesting for eight LS seats. In this phase, 1,34,56,491 electorates are going to decide the fate of 68 contesting candidates from Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Left Front and Congress. West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Nearly 69 Percent Voter Turnout Till 5 PM.
With reports of violence, EVM malfunctions and poll rigging, the Election Commission has made adequate security arrangements and deployed central forces to make the polls fair and peaceful. For the first time, the Election Commission has used VVPAT machines in all the polling booths.