Com. Ishwar Chandra Das and Com. Saidul Haque, CPI(M) Lok Sabha candidates from East Bardhaman and Bardhaman-Durgapur constituencies respectively, have written to the Election Commission regarding widespread rigging and booth capturing by TMC hoodlums in the third phase of polling in West Bengal, yesterday. In their letters, they’ve provided a list of affected booths and demanded that polls be conducted once again in these areas.
Com. Ishwar Chandra Das mentioned that polling agents of opposition parties, especially the CPI(M), were driven out of the polling stations by TMC goons who had assembled within and beyond 200 meters of the polling booth to threaten voters. Voters were also threatened in their homes and told not to venture out under any circumstances, he wrote.
Com. Saidul Haque reported that the police and district administration did not take any measure to ensure that people cast their votes freely. He further added that when these voters, who were deprived of casting their votes, were sitting on a dharna outside the office of the District Magistrate of Burdwan to lodge their complaint, the Election Observer refused to meet them. He also mentioned that aged voters and women were brutally beaten up.
Com. Ishwar Chandra das and Com. Saidul Haque both have said that in their constituencies, the level of rigging was such that it could be said that for all practical purposes no polls were held. Considering this situation, both the candidates have demanded a re-poll in their constituencies.