The trends of political violence and intimidations during the 2019 Lok Sabha election have continued in West Bengal as crude bombs have been found at a polling booth in Krishnanagar, West Bengal and also bombs have been recovered from a polling booth in Santipur, Nadia district.
Further, fearing attacks on them, villagers in Asansol have decided to boycott polls at Jemua’s five polling booth due to the absence of central forces at the polling station. Reportedly, people are upset that they are no central police forces in these booths and have decided not to until the election officials deploy central forces to guard the polling booths.
Violence also erupted in Jemua area in Asansol Parliamentary constituency as the police resorted to lathi-charge against the supporters of party workers for protesting and shouting slogans. BJP supporters were shouting slogans when a few people attacked them with bamboo sticks.
The clashes took place when the voters were observing a poll boycott in the Bardhaman – Durgapur constituency in the state. The police resorted to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control, reported India Today.
“I will myself take the central forces to that polling station. It is very good that people in West Bengal are aware and they want central forces so that they can cast their vote. This is why Mamata Banerjee is scared,” said Asansol BJP candidate Babul Supriyo.
Union Minister Babul Supriyo is contesting from the BJP for his second term from Asansol while Trinamool Congress has fielded actor-turned-politician Moon Moon Sen against Babul Supriyo.
Meanwhile, Kalyan Chaubey, the BJP candidate from Krishnanagar has accused Trinamool Congress workers of capturing polling booths in Chapra, Bikrampur, Dogachi, Kanainagar in Krishananagar Lok Sabha constituency.
He also accused the West Bengal police of threatening BJP polling agents and workers at the polling booth at Bilkumari village in Palashipara assembly constituency under Krishananagar LS Constituency.
The fourth phases of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal have been mired in controversy as sporadic instances of violence have been reported throughout the state just as the first three phases of elections. Threats, intimidations, bomb attacks, proxy voting have also been recorded in some of the Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal during the third phase of Lok Sabha elections.
