By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Phase-II election in West Bengal began with small clashes, on April 29 and voters were seen tense across the 142 Legislative Assembly Constituencies under polling, yet the state witnessed heavy turnout of electors since early hours of voting that reached 61.11 per cent by 1 PM, with highest turnout of 64.57 per cent in Hooghly constituency. Voter turnout by 3 PM was 78.68 per cent. It clearly shows that both the BJP and TMC are able to bring their supporters to polling booths in large numbers, and the outcome will depend on the size of their respective support bases.
The voting trend is similar to the first phase poll on April 23 in 152 seats, in which voter turnout was 62.18 per cent by 1 PM, 78.77 by 3 PM, and 89.93 per cent by 5 PM. The total voter turnout in the first phase was 92.89 per cent, with only difference that the polling that day was relatively peaceful compared to the second phase election.
West Bengal had suddenly become very tense as the campaign for the second phase came to a close in April 27. Deployment of the “Encounter Specialist” as political observer for South 24 Parganas, his threatening language to the family members of a TMC candidate, BJP’s praising him for “setting to tone” for election, and TMC’s objecting to it had created enough tensions on April 28. Nevertheless, a PIL has been filed against the “encounter specialist” in the Supreme Court of India seeking his removal from poll duty. Violence was already expected in this high stake electoral battle of the second phase, and when voting started in the morning, news of incidence of violence started pouring in.
Even during election campaigns, PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Home Amit Shah were telling their audience about “TMC’s goons”, and CM Mamata had been objecting to it and alleging that BJP and ECI has conspired to rig polling and threatened that TMC rant and file would not allow it to happen. Such stances had already created high level of tensions among voters even before polling started in the morning today for the second phase.
The election kicked off in the morning with incidents of violence and allegations of voter intimidation and technical glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) at several booths. The reports of incidents of violence and vandalism also started pouring in as polling progressed.
All these were happening despites the ECI’s claim that they have made good preparation for the second phase of election. Almost 2,400 companies of CAPF were deployed to maintain law and order. “We are prepared for the worst,” ECI’s observer Subrata Gupta had said.
During the first phase, the administration taken over by the ECI, had arrested 41 individuals for poll-related violence, which had occurred at much lower scale than in the second phase. They have taken 571 persons in preventive custody.
As the polling stated for the second phase today incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from several parts of the state which included Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar.
BJP accused that the “miscreants linked to the ruling TMC” assaulted their polling agent in Chapra in Nadia District. He has been admitted to a local hospital. BJP candidate said that the incident took place after the mock poll began. TMC has denied the allegation but the injured person has said that 15-16 TMC supporters attacked him with a rod.
In Shantipur, BJP’s camp office has been vandalised, which created tension in the area. In South 24 Parganas, Bhangar witnessed tension after an ISF agent was prevented from entering a polling booth.
Polling delayed in several booth including in Nimtala booth no 140. Police issued a warning to Kartik Banerjee, the brother of CM Mamata and other TMC workers gathered near the polling both, and said that no more than 4 people will be allowed to assemble at a spot.
CM Mamata Banerjee claimed “several observes have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP’s directions.” In Bhabanipur, from where she is contesting against the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, she alleged that all their party flags had been removed beforehand and that some outsiders were acting at will. She had earlier alleged that BJP has planned to rig the election in three of the eight wards in her constituency, and today she alleged, “They are not allowing the councillor of Ward No 70 to step out. They are picking up all our boys.”
“BJP wants to rig this election. Elections in Bengal are usually peaceful. Is there goonda raj here?” Banerjee told reporters, alleging CRPF personnel had visited the homes of TMC leaders late Tuesday night and unleashed terror in the area. Banerjee showed photo and video of a party worker whom she claims was beaten up by the BJP, saying, “Look how our worker was beaten up at night. Just look at this atrocity. What kind of hooliganism is going on? Voting does not happen like this. Voting happens peacefully.”
BJP’s candidate Adhikari in Bhabanipur declared, “I will not allow any hooliganism”, while Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to “rig” the election using central forces, police observers and election officials.
BJP and TMC traded accusations, each blaming the other for spreading unrest and attempting to influence the elections. Glitched in EVM has also been reported from several booths in a few constituencies, including in Panihati constituency from where BJP’s candidate Ratna Debnath, the mother of the KG Kar Medical College rape victim is contesting, and from Howrah’s Bally constituency. (IPA Service)
