Kolkata: Around 80 per cent votes were cast till 5 pm on Saturday in the bypoll to two Lok Sabha and one Assembly seats in West Bengal. However, in an unusual sight, long queues were spotted not outside polling booths but outside banks and ATMs in poll-bound constituencies. The bypolls were held in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies and Monteswar Assembly constituency which registered 77 per cent, 81 per cent and 86 per cent votes respectively. According to Election Commission officials, polling to these three constituencies was peaceful and there were no reports of any untoward incident.
However, as the polling was held in the backdrop of the Centre’s demonetisation drive, people had more interest in withdrawing their money than cast their votes. The polling booths started wearing a deserted look as people started gathering outside banks and ATMs to withdraw money.
The Opposition parties however alleged that the bypoll was marred by rigging and false voting. Demanding repoll in all the seats, BJP wondered how come 80 polling was registered if people were more interested in withdrawing money than casting their votes. “We have demanded repoll in the Monteswar Assembly constituency and in over 1400 booths in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies,” said state BJP vice-president Joy Prakash Majumdar.
The Left Front too alleged electoral malpractices by ruling Trinamul Congress workers and claimed that their polling agents were prevented from entering the booths. CPI(M)’s Lok Sabha MP Mohammad Salim said that the ruling TMC turned the bypolls into a farce by launching attacks on the Opposition candidates and polling agents.
The Congress candidate from Monteswar Bulbul Ahmed Sheikh lodged a complaint to the Election Commission alleging that he was attacked by TMC workers. State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury had called chief electoral officer of West Bengal, Sunil Gupta demanding action against the culprits. The counting of votes will take place on November 22.
