Kolkata: Until 5 pm on April 22, West Bengal saw a turnout of nearly 80% as phase six of the assembly election progressed amidst a significant surge in COVID-19 cases.
Over 1.03 crore voters are set to decide the political fate of 306 candidates in this phase. Stray incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the state, like the first five phases.
Elections, which began at 7 am, are being held in 43 assembly seats – 17 in North 24 Parganas district, nine each in Nadia and Uttar Dinajpur, and eight in Purba Bardhaman.
Noting that COVID safety norms were being flouted in the state during campaigning, the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday banned roadshows and vehicle rallies in the state with immediate effect and said no public meeting having more than 500 people would be allowed.
The order came into effect from 7 pm Thursday. It said the commission has noted “with anguish” that many political parties and candidates are still not adhering to the prescribed safety norms during the public gatherings.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under fire for holding successive crowded rallies in Bengal as part of campaigns for the BJP, cancelled his Friday trip to Bengal.
Tomorrow, will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2021
Former party chief and Union home minister Amit Shah, meanwhile, held rallies in parts of Bengal on Thursday.
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during an election campaign rally in support of party candidates for the West Bengal Assembly Polls at Buniadpur in South Dinajpur district, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Photo: PTI
Ashoknagar ‘firing’
The ruling Trinamool Congress has alleged that two of its activists were injured in alleged firing by central forces outside booth number 79 in Ashoknagar’s Tangra area after a few party members protested against BJP candidate Tanuja Chakraborty’s visit to the area.
Clashes broke out in the area between the two rival parties in which bombs were hurled, police said adding that unidentified people vandalised one vehicle carrying the central forces.
“Two of my party colleagues are injured after bullets fired by central forces personnel hit them in their legs. Both are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital,” TMC candidate Narayan Goswami alleged.
The EC, which had sought a report from the officials posted in the district, later dismissed the allegations.
“There was no incident of any firing by the central forces. We have got no such report. This is a baseless allegation,” a senior EC official told PTI.
In the fourth phase of polls held on April 10, four persons were killed after CISF personnel opened fire in “self-defence” outside a booth in Cooch Behar district’s Sitalkuchi area.
Clashes in Uttar Dinajpur
In Uttar Dinajpur’s Chopra area, shots were reportedly fired after clashes broke out between activists of the TMC and the BJP over allegations of heckling by agents of a polling booth.
Both the parties denied having used any firearm and blamed the opposition for the violence.
The office of the chief electoral officer has sought a report on the incident from the local administration.
In Raiganj, sources in the TMC said one of its activists sustained serious injuries after BJP workers allegedly stabbed him. The saffron party has, however, denied the allegations.
Phase six voting in Bengal on April 22. Photo: PTI
Violence in North 24 Parganas
Sporadic violence was also reported from the Bijpur constituency in North 24 Parganas, where TMC and BJP supporters clashed outside polling booths. Both the parties accused each other of trying to rig votes.
Two supporters of TMC and three of BJP were reportedly injured in the clashes and a huge contingent of security forces was rushed to the troubled areas to control the situation.
In the Halisahar area of Naihati constituency, the saffron party alleged that bombs were hurled at the residence of a local BJP leader, whose mother and younger brother are known to have suffered injuries. The TMC and the BJP traded charges against each other.
In a separate incident in the area, a TMC worker was injured after unidentified miscreants hacked him.
In the Titagarh area of Barrackpore constituency, clashes broke out between the TMC and the BJP supporters, following which bombs were hurled at each other, leading to severe injuries to five BJP activists.
The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, official sources said.
Film director-turned-TMC candidate Raj Chakraborty was gheraoed in the Barrackpore constituency by BJP supporters, who accused him of influencing voters.
Chakraborty denied the allegations.
TMC supporters had a verbal duel with the central forces in Habra constituency when its TMC candidate and state minister Jyotipriyo Mullick visited a polling booth in the area.
In the Dum Dum Uttar constituency, a scuffle broke out between the TMC and BJP supporters when the ruling party opposed the visit of the saffron party candidate Archana Majumdar to the polling stations.
In the Amdanga constituency, country-made crude bombs were recovered by police personnel.
(With PTI inputs)