Bengal Elections: Stray Violence in Nandigram, Mamata Slams EC, Threatens to Move Court
Image Courtesy: IANS
Nandigram: Amid incidents of stray violence in the high profile Nandigram constituency, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the Election Commission (EC) for "inaction" despite her party lodging several poll-related complaints and threatened to move the law courts over it.
"We have lodged 63 complaints since morning. But no action has been taken. We will move court over it. This is unacceptable," the chief minister said sitting in a wheelchair outside booth 7 in Boyal in Nandigram. "The EC is working on the instructions of Amit Shah," she alleged.
"Goons from other states creating ruckus here," she added. The TMC chief has been complaining for long alleging that her rivals have brought in goons from other states to intimidate voters.
Banerjee is pitted against her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who has crossed over to the BJP for the prestigious Nandigram constituency.
The TMC leadership, which has sought re-polling in booth number 7 at Boyal, also claimed that party activists were beaten up by BJP supporters. Adhikari denied the allegations levelled by the TMC and claimed the ruling party has lost it sensing defeat.
Earlier, as Banerjee reached Boyal, BJP supporters shouted "Jai Shri Ram" slogans. A huge police contingent was rushed to the spot to control the situation after which the crowd dispersed.
Suvendu's convoy ‘attacked’
Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited several booths amid allegations of booth jamming that marred the voting process in the second phase.
After monitoring the situation in the assembly segment, where local TMC leaders complained that their election agents were not being allowed to enter booths, Banerjee left her rented residence at Reyapara around 1 pm.
She then visited polling centres at Sonachura, Reyapara, Balarampur, Boyal, Nandigram block 1 and 2.
"She will also travel to various villages and booths in areas where there have been reports of threats, intimidation and jamming," Banerjee's election agent Sheikh Sufiyan said.
Meanwhile, Adhikari's convoy was allegedly attacked with stones at two places while visiting booths in the assembly constituency.
His motorcade was also gheraoed as TMC supporters shouted slogans against the BJP leader.
Security forces patrolling the area dispersed the mob, making way for his convoy to move onwards.
"I am used to such protests by TMC goons. They are all followers of Mamata begum (Banerjee). Let them do whatever they want till the results are out on May 2," Adhikari told reporters.
According to TMC sources, Banerjee, who was scheduled to leave the area for campaigning in North Bengal after end of polling at 6.30 pm, changed her plans this morning.
The entire Nandigram constituency has been placed under Section 144 to avoid any untoward incident.
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