Heavy polling in West Bengal amid rigging charges

Singer and BJP candidate Bappi Lahiri beats a drum during his election campaign.

As the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal kicks off on Wednesday, allegations of rigging, booth capturing, assault on Opposition party's polling agents, especially those of the CPI (M), flew thick and fast.

Until 1 pm on the day 62.50 percent of votes have been cast in the nine constituencies of Howarah, Uluberia, Srerampur, Hooghly, Arambag(SC), Bardhaman Purba(SC), Bardhaman- Durgapur, Bolpur(SC) and Birbhum.

But contrary to the claim of the special observer in the State, Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, Opposition parties alleged that some of the constituencies like Arambag, Bolpur and Sreerampur have reportedly witnessed violence and use of muscle power by the TMC.

In the Sreerampur constituency Congress candidate Abdul Mannan has staged a sit-in demonstration in protest of the alleged effort of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to turn the polls into a “travesty.”

CPI (M) candidate in the Bardhaman Durgapur constituency Sk. Saidul Haque has staged a sit in protest demonstration in front of District Magistrate’s office alleging that despite having apprised the election commission of the need to curb violence, nothing has been done.

CPI (M) state secretary Biman Bose alleged that “the Election Commission of India has failed to take proper measure to ensure free and peaceful elections in the State.”

Reactions from TMC awaited, while the Election Commission (EC) will brief the press little later in the day.