Kolkata, Oct. 6 -- The arrest of Naoda MLA Humayun Kabir in Rejinagar on Tuesday became a major flashpoint in the bypolls, which were also marked by allegations of electoral malpractice, voter intimidation, booth capture and forcible removal of polling agents. Kabir, who had won Rejinagar in the April Assembly elections before vacating the seat, was arrested while moving around the constituency. His son is contesting the bypoll as an AJUP candidate.
Murshidabad SP Sachin Makkar said Kabir was neither a candidate nor an election agent and had been arrested after allegedly creating trouble and attempting to influence voters and incite supporters. The arrest followed a confrontation with police. AJUP leaders alleged that the police were trying to rig the election in favour of the BJP, while Congress leaders accused the police of favouring the ruling party.
WBPCC president Subhankar Sarkar alleged that Congress agents were forcibly removed from more than 100 booths in Rejinagar and later claimed they were roughed up and driven out from almost all polling stations. Rejinagar Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi staged a protest outside the local police station, demanding cancellation of polling and fresh elections. Mamata Trinamool also demanded repolling in 13 booths.
The developments came amid allegations of malpractice in both constituencies. Mamata Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of "rampant rigging" and described the alleged irregularities as the "murder of democracy".
He alleged that voters were being intimidated, while the police and Election Commission failed to act.
Nandigram too witnessed allegations of booth capture and voter intimidation. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan alleged that party agents were prevented from entering booths and some voters were stopped from reaching polling stations. He also claimed that voter slips of women were snatched and they were prevented from casting their votes.
The Congress demanded complete repolling in both seats, saying the alleged irregularities undermined the electoral process. CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim accused the CEO and EC officials of ignoring complaints of rigging, while Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari maintained that polling in Nandigram was peaceful.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.