Amid reports of EVM glitches, poll violence reported in West Bengal 7th phase election

An estimated 63.58% of exercised their franchise till 3 pm in nine Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal on Sunday.

An estimated 63.58% of exercised their franchise till 3 pm in nine Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal on Sunday. (Photo by Amit Datta / AFP)

NEW DELHI: Polling in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2019 in West Bengal was marred by violence amid reports of EVM glitches. In a statement, Trinamool Congress lawmaker Derek O' Brien said, Bengal wants peaceful polling, which BJP doesn't. "Today, in Bengal, central forces are brutally torturing and intimidating common citizens, especially the marginalised. Even physically handicapped persons are being tortured. Central forces are also threatening voters 'kamal dabao nahin toh thok dega' (vote for BJP or will shoot you)," he said. The BJP termed the allegations baseless and said it was goons supported by the TMC who were trying to intimidate voters. In Delhi, BJP leader and Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged the poll body to order the central forces to remain in Bengal till the Model Code of Conduct is in place, as it expressed concern that the TMC may target a section of voters after polling is over. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from West Bengal's Jadavpur seat Anupam Hazra and a party leader accompanying him were attacked and the latter's car damaged after the two visited a booth on receiving reports of rigging. Hazra alleged that he was pushed and shoved and accused the TMC of rigging all 52 polling booths under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation ward number 109 in Jadavpur.

BJP MP candidate Anupam Hazra in Jadavpur: TMC goons have beaten up a BJP mandal president, a driver&attacked a car. We also rescued our 3 polling agents.TMC goons were going to carry out rigging at 52 booths. People are eager to vote for BJP but they are not allowing ppl to vote pic.twitter.com/7qlRPg73HA

— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2019

It was said that a BJP delegation led by Jay Prakash Majumdar, Vice-President and Sishir Bajoria, Member, Election Committee will meet the CEO, West Bengal on various discrepancies in the 7th Phase of Elections. An estimated 63.66% of exercised their franchise till 4 pm in nine Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal on Sunday. Polling is currently underway in Kolkata North, Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Joynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC) in the seventh and final phase of the staggered general elections. Earlier, violence has marred polling in West Bengal during the six phases. It spread to the streets of Kolkata, when suspected TMC and BJP workers clashed during a roadshow of saffron party chief Amit Shah. A bust of polymath and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was damaged. Both the parties have blamed each other for its desecration. (agency inputs) ALSO WATCH: Diamond Harbour BJP candidate Nilanjan Roy's car vandalised