Sporadic Incidents Of Violence, Intimidation In Bengal LS Seats As Phase 1 Polling Draws To A Close — Top Points

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul likened the situation in Bengal to Bihar and accused the Trinamool Congress of resorting to threats and violence to suppress Opposition voices.

New Delhi: As first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections draws to a close, West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 66.34 per cent till 3pm in three constituencies — Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar — on Friday. However, amid the ongoing polling, sporadic incidents of violence were reported in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled state.

Here Are The Key Updates:

• The Cooch Behar constituency in North Bengal witnessed violence, with clashes between workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both parties filed numerous complaints, 80 from TMC and 39 from BJP, citing instances of poll violence, voter intimidation, and attacks on polling agents.


• In one of the incidents, a Trinamool Block President sustained injuries and was hospitalised in the Dinhata area. Another BJP worker was reportedly attacked with a sickle while on his way to vote in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar, and was admitted to the hospital.


• Violence was also reported from Sitai, Dinhata, Bhetaguri, and other areas of the district. The Election Commission of India (ECI) received a total of 151 complaints so far, with 8 complaints from BJP and 7 from TMC, as per reports.


• Nisith Pramanik, the BJP candidate, accused the Trinamool Congress of orchestrating violence in Cooch Behar, alleging that voters have been prevented from casting their votes in various elections, including Panchayat and Municipal polls.


• Cooch Behar, among the three constituencies, holds particular significance in Bengal's first phase of elections. The Rajbanshis, a significant portion of the population, will play a decisive role in determining the electoral fate amid a history of violence and intimidation in this area.


• While TMC supporters were accused of pelting stones in Chandamari, resulting in injuries to a BJP booth president, the ruling party accused BJP workers of attacking TMC workers in Sitalkuchi and Chotosalbari Gram Panchayat areas. During the initial hour of voting, bombs were reportedly found at the residence of a BJP booth president in Dinhata-II.


• Meanwhile, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul likened the situation in Bengal to Bihar and accused the Trinamool Congress of resorting to threats and violence to suppress Opposition voices.


• Speaking to PTI, Paul said, “A few years back we used to see such things in Bihar, but Bengal has turned into new Bihar, new Kashmir. Booth president is being kidnapped. Booth rigging is being done. Opponents have to be silenced...either by threatening or murdering... this is Mamata Banerjee's politics in West Bengal.”


• Speaking on allegations of giving freebies in exchange of votes, Pramanik told PTI, "Giving Rs 100 or 1,000 does not mean that people have been bought. The money given by Mamata Banerjee is of taxpayers and not her personal. Trinamool Congress has applied the Sandeshkhali model to the entire Bengal."