Amidst reports of electoral malpractices, sporadic violence and allegation of intimidation of candidates, about 52 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Polls held on Saturday till 1 p.m. Voting will continue till 3 p.m.
There were reports of bombs being hurled in a number of areas in the city and allegation of electoral malpractices reported from many polling booths throughout the day. The candidates and agents of the opposition parties were targeted, booths were allegedly jammed and eventually captured and party offices are vandalised. Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is expected to win the election handsomely, is blamed for the large scale controlled, low-intensity violence, across the city. Even the TMC sympathisers and differently-abled persons were not spared by the TMC cadres.
The Hindu Journalists obstructed from going near polling booth
The Hindu journalist Soumya Das and photojournalist Sushanta Patronobish obstructed by locals from visiting polling polls in Garfa area of south Kolkata. In the same area there were reports of media personnel being assaulted. The TMC cadres told them to “go away” or to “face the consequence” and that the “reporters are not allowed to go close to polling stations.”
There were reports of journalists being threatened by the Trinamool Congress in ward number 133 of the KMC in city’s Metaibruz area.
TMC denies allegation
While the TMC denied the allegations, Kolkata Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayashtha and West Bengal State Election Commissioner S.R. Upadhayay said that the polls have been largely peaceful.
“We have got allegations and counter allegations at 10-12 places. Senior police officers have been deployed,” Mr Purakayashtha said.
Mr. Upadhyay said that police has been asked to take action on the basis of complaints of political parties.
CPI(M) leader and son of H.A. Halim former Speaker of West Bengal Assembly, Fuad Halim said that he narrowly escaped an attempt on his life when TMC supporters fired at him near Indian Museum.
TMC has, however, denied these allegations. Minister Purnendu Bose said that “small incidents are expected in elections in Bengal.”
“However, we are all aware how Left Front used to conduct elections... But, no big incident has taken place,” said Mr. Bose.
Kathakali Nandi adds from central Kolkata
Earlier in the day, BJP candidate Shweta Sinha from Ward 46 complained of proxy voting at the Loreto Day School in Bowbazar area. The BJP supporters claimed that “heavy fighting” was going on inside the polling station. The BJP and Congress party workers complained to the local police station and presiding officer.
Nearly 39 lakh voters will decide the fate of 1,075 candidates in the 144 ward city civic body.
