Lok Sabha Election: TMC Alleges Voter Assault, EVM Tampering; BJP Claims Polls Largely Peaceful

Currently, voting is underway for Lok Sabha Election 2023 in three constituencies of North Bengal including Balurghat and Raiganj. 

Ahead of the 2nd phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections, polling officials carry EVMs and other election material for poll duty at Balurghat (File Photo)

Source : PTI

During the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, the All India Trinamool Congress reported a brutal attack on voters at a booth in Balurghat and alleged EVM tampering in Raiganj. Contrarily, the BJP in West Bengal asserted that the voting process was largely peaceful, except for isolated incidents of booth jamming attributed to the TMC.

Currently, voting is underway in three constituencies of North Bengal including Balurghat and Raiganj. 

Questioning the conduct of polls by Election Commission of India, The All India Trinamool Congress said, "Central forces, deployed to secure free elections, are sabotaging democracy in Bengal! In Balurghat's Municipality Ward No. 9, voting had to be stopped after they unleashed a brutal assault on our voters."

"@ECISVEEP, is this your idea of free & fair polls?" it asked, on X. 

Further, TMC said: "Despite warnings from Smt. @MamataOfficial that @BSF_India personnel were terrorising voters in border regions, @ECISVEEP stood by as a mute spectator. And now we have proof of MHA-controlled BSF threatening and harassing voters in booth 202 of Balurghat's Batun GP. ECI, act NOW!"

Despite warnings from Smt. @MamataOfficial that @BSF_India personnel were terrorising voters in border regions, @ECISVEEP stood by as a mute spectator.

And now we have proof of MHA-controlled BSF threatening and harassing voters in booth 202 of Balurghat's Batun GP.

ECI, act…

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 26, 2024

In addition, a spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress stated that reports were pouring in from Raiganj alleging tampering with EVMs and demanded the immediate attention of ECI to investigate this purported attempt to "subvert democracy".

On the other hand, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, “The polling is predominantly peaceful till now. We have received complaints from a few places about booth jamming by TMC; they are threatening people to vote against the BJP. I am going to those booths.”