The second phase of West Bengal assembly elections began in Nandigram, on Thursday, where Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee is facing the electoral battle against her follower-turned rival BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
Adhikari after casting his vote this morning around 7 am addressed the media and stated that the situation was calm for now. However, this soon was followed by several reports of violence across the assembly.
BJP’s Bharti Ghosh claimed that over a hundred “goons of TMC” gheraoed the polling agent of the polling booth No. 22 at Navapara and further added that in Barunia, voters were getting influenced and intimidated before entering the booth. On the other hand, TMC workers alleged that outsiders were accompanying BJP candidate Bharti Ghosh at Debra and reportedly created a ruckus. Forces have been deployed at the spot to diffuse the tension between the two groups.
Likewise, a woman polling agent of BJP at booth No. 173 in Keshpur was beaten up allegedly by TMC workers today. Also, the local BJP leader Tanmay Ghosh’s car was vandalized.
Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee has decided to stay in Purba Medinipur’s Reyapara area during the polls to monitor the situation in the high-profile Nandigram constituency.
While the battle between the TMC and BJP has taken a fierce turn, 58.15% voter turnout has been recorded so far until 01:29 pm as per the EC approximations in phase 2 of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
(Internet Input)