The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has written to the West Bengal Chief Election Officer (CEO) demanding repoll at several booths in the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, alleging malpractices carried out by the Trinamool Congress during the voting process on Saturday.
BJP leader Shishir Bajoria wrote a letter to the CEO on June 1, saying that booth agents of the BJP were driven out and the CCTV cameras were found facing in directions other than the polling cubicle. Also, the voters were prevented from reaching booths.
The letter said, "On behalf of Abhijit Das (Bobby), candidate of BJP of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, we request you to grant repolling in several booths".
Repoll was sought in booths in the assembly segments of Budge Budge, Falta, Maheshtala, Diamond Harbour, Bishnupur, Satgachia and Metiabruz.
Diamond Harbour, along with eight other Lok Sabha seats went to polls in the final phase on June 1. While the TMC has pitted sitting MP and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, BJP has fielded Abhijit Das from the constituency.
Suvendu Adhikari also alleges malpractice
On June 1, BJP leader and LoP Suvendu Adhikari also alleged malpractice at multiple booths in the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat. He said that there was violence during the election in West Bengal. Adhikari added that the BJP is seeking repolls at hundreds of polling booths in Diamond Harbour seat.
Moreover, he accused the state police of working under political motivation in favour of the ruling party. Adhikary alleged that the state police did not cooperate with the CAPF and misguided them the whole day.
EC orders repolls at one polling booth each in Mathurapur and Barasat
Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Sunday ordered repolling at one booth each in the Mathurapur and Barasat Lok Sabha constituencies. The repolling will be held on Monday, from 7 am to 6 pm. EC's order was based on reports of the returning officers, the district election officers and observers concerned.
Among the two booths, one under the Barasat constituency is located at the Kadambagachi Saradar Para FP School in the Deganga assembly segment, while the other in Mathurapur is located at the Aaddir Mahal Srichaitanya Bidyapith in the Kakdwip assembly seat.
A voter turnout of 73.79 per cent was recorded in nine Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal that went to polls in the seventh and final phase on Saturday. The results of the elections will be declared on June 4. However, the exit polls predict that BJP may likely prevail over the ruling TMC in Lok Sabha elections by winning about 22-26 seats. TMC may win 14-18 seats.
(With PTI Inputs)
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