CPI(M) State secretary >Surjya Kanta Mishra on Monday faced protests by Trinamool Congress supporters while he was making the rounds of polling booths in Paschim Medinipur’s Narayangarh Assembly constituency, from where he is contesting.
Local people, ostensibly supporters of the ruling party, raised slogans of “Go back Surjya Mishra”, alleging that he had not visited the constituency for several years.
Premeditated, says CPI(M) CPI(M) activists said Dr. Mishra’s visits to the booths were part of his strategy to reduce electoral malpractices, and the protests seemed premeditated. “I know the reason for their anger as I have complained to the Election Commission about 23 polling booths. They are angry that I am here,” Dr. Mishra told presspersons. Though he is only the second CPI(M) secretary to contest the polls after Jyoti Basu, Dr. Mishra is facing a tough battle at Narayangarh from where he won in 2011 by 7,000 votes.
