Charges fly in first phase polling

TT,12 April 2019: Voting was overall peaceful in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday in the first phase of the general election, except for sporadic incidents of violence 

Vandalism, damage to electronic voting machines and ransacking of a candidate's vehicle were reported 

Allegations of malpractice and vitiation of the poll atmosphere were levelled by Bengal Opposition parties as well as the Trinamul Congress through the polling hours 

According to administrative sources, polling percentages in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar till 5pm were 81.94 and 81.05, respectively 

The Telegraph takes a closer look at some of the alleged incidents 

Cooch Behar 

Where: Pachagar in Mathabhanga 

What happened: The vehicle of Gobinda Roy, the Forward Bloc's Cooch Behar candidate, was ransacked 

Allegation: Roy said he raised protests when he had found a Trinamul supporter trying to influence voters at a booth. The candidate said the protest had prompted alleged Trinamul supporters to damage his car. District Trinamul chief Rabindranath Ghosh has denied the charge 

Where: Singimari-Madnakura under Baro Solmari panchayat in Sitai 

What happened: An EVM was ransacked and polling was stopped. 

Allegation: Nisith Pramanik, the BJP's Cooch Behar candidate, alleged that a group of Trinamul workers had been casting false votes at a booth. He alleged that the Trinamul workers had vandalised the machine following a protest and fled. But Nur Alam, the president of Trinamul's Dinhata I block, said BJP supporters were involved in the incident. 

Where: Natabari, Fulbari and some areas of Cooch Behar town 

What happened: EVM malfunction 

Allegation: District Trinamul chief Ghosh claimed that at least 80 EVMs did not work. He alleged a conspiracy 

Official response: A district administration official said the machines were immediately replaced. 

Where: Rasamanta Primary School in Dinhata 2 block 

What happened: Trinamul and BJP supporters clashed at a polling booth 

Allegation: Sanjay Chakraborty, a district committee member of the BJP, said the party's supporters had been beaten up by Trinamul members and were not allowed to cast their votes. Mir Humayun Kabir, the block president of Trinamul, instead accused the BJP supporters of attacking members of the ruling party. 

Where: 130/131 booth at Barobhita in Matalhat under Dinhata subdivision 

What happened: Clash between Trinamul and BJP supporters 

Allegation: BJP leader Sanjay Chakraborty alleged that Trinamul terrorised the area and did not allow the BJP agents to access booths. The BJP later blocked the Matalhat-Buxirhat road and organised a demonstration. Nur Alam, Trinamul leader of Dinhata, accused BJP supporters of attacking his party's supporters 

Where: Government Polytechnic in Cooch Behar, which is also the distribution-cumcollection centre 

What Happened: Nisith Pramanik launched a demonstration, demanding repolling at all polling booths where paramilitary personnel were not deployed. His security men jostled with police as he continued the demonstration. Pramanik withdrew the protest after 45 minutes. He did not mention the number of such booths 

Allegation: Pramanik alleged that there had been malpractices in those booths Official reaction: The candidate's allegation has been heard and it will be looked into, said an official Alipurduar 

Where: A booth in Patwaripara under Sulkapara panchayat of the Nagrakata Assembly segment 

What happened: The name and symbol of the BJP candidate was covered with adhesive tapes on the EVM 

Allegation: John Barla, the BJP candidate, accused Trinamul of having done it Official response: Debasis Chakraborty, the subdivisional police officer of Mal, said it was "just a rumour" 

Where: Kumargram, Tufanganj and Nagrakata 

What Happened: The BJP has demanded re-polling at 13 booths 

Allegation: Ganga Prasad Sharma, the district BJP chief, accused Trinamul of chasing away voters from those booths under Kumargram, Tufanganj and Nagrakata Assembly segments District Trinamul leaders have denied the charges Official reaction: The complaint has been received and the administration will speak to the polling personnel concerned and others to find out the truth.