Peacefull polling in three North Bengal districts- in 13 constituencies- Covid patients also exercised their franchise in PPE kits

SNS, DARJEELING,. 17 APRIL 21 : Darjeeling under the fifth phase of the Assembly elections was peaceful in 13 constituencies under three districts in North Bengal today.

Barring aside stray complaints of some political parties and central forces allegedly trying to "influence" voters, and voters not following Covid protocols, no untoward incident was reported from any constituency.

Voters stood in long queues since early morning, e Covid- 19 patients in PPE kits also exercised their franchise even as leaders welcomed the pleasant weather that came up today after a storm last night.

Some in Siliguri and Phansidewa constituencies.

It was a festive mood as people went on a holiday mood in the five constituencies in Darjeeling district (Darjeeling Kurseong, Matigara-Naxalbari, Siliguri, and Phansidewa), seven in Jalpaiguri district (Dhupguri, Mainaguri, Jalpaiguri, Rajganj, Dabgram Fulbari, Mal and Nagrakata). Kalimpong district is in itself a single constituency.

"Peaceful voting has always been the hallmark of North Bengal," a political observer said, even as workers of different parties were seen camping near polling booths under one roof and sharing and eating lunch together at some places in Siliguri and Mal constituency in Jalpaiguri.

According to officials, the voter turnout until 6.30 pm was 67.32 percent in Darjeeling constituency 72.92 percent in Kurseong, 81.89 in Matigara- Naxalbari, 75.70 in Siliguri and 84.17 in Phansidewa.

"There were a few polling stations where the polling process went on after 6.30 pm. The final turnout percentage can only be known tomorrow" a district poll official said.

In Darjeeling constituency, all senior leaders of different political parties cast their votes today.

However, the general secretary of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (Bimal Gurung camp) could not exercise his franchise as his name was missing in the electoral roll.

The names of many leaders of the Morcha, along with their family members, had been struck off the rolls after the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation and after they went into hiding. Officials had then said that they were not present at their places when verification of the voter list was going on.

"My name is not in the voters' list, due to which I could not cast my vote. I had applied for it about two-and-a-half months ago. Everyone else was re-enrolled, except me. Being a citizen of this country, it is strange that I could not cast my vote, despite holding a voter card, aadhar card and passport," said Mr Giri, whose polling booth is located at the Chandmari Community Hall, Polling Station 191, in Darjeeling town.

Mr Giri was not able to vote during the Lok Sabha elections and the Darjeeling Assembly by-election in 2019, as he, along with the other Morcha leaders, including Bimal Gurung, led a displaced life after the agitation.

Mr Gurung, however, cast his vote at the polling booth at the Patlebas community hall today. "I exercise my voting right in every election, but was not able to do so when we were all displaced. It feels good that I could vote this time," said Mr Gurung, adding that they were hopeful that they will get good results in all the three Assembly seats.

On the other hand, the president of the other faction of the Morcha, Binoy Tamang, said, "It is only in the Hills that elections have remained peaceful. We have seen that the BJP and the Gurung faction could not even appoint polling agents in many booths, which shows that people here support the way we have worked for peace and development in three and a half years."

Both the factions of the Morcha are TMC alliance parties, but have fielded their own candidates. The contest in this election in the Hill seats is being seen to be between these two factions and the BJP candidates backed by the Gorkha National Liberation front (GNLF) and some other local parties.

GNLF president Mann Ghisingh said," We have supported the BJP as we want them to come to power in the state so that our issues can be addressed."

The over all elections remained peaceful in the Hills with no reports of any untoward incident.

Polling in other constituencies in Darjeeling district was also peaceful.

The CPI-M, meanwhile, lodged complaints to the returning officer against the BJP candidate for Siliguri, Shankar Ghosh, for allegedly moving in cars with several "unruly persons."

"They were trying to create nuisance," the complaint said.

CPI-M candidate for Siliguri Asok Bhattacharya, Trinamul Congress candidate Prof Om Prakash Mishra, and BJP candidate Shankar Ghosh visited several polling booths in Siliguri.

In Mal constituency in Jalpaiguri, workers of both the Trinamul Congress and the BJP were seen camping under one roof and helping voters and supervising their party work together.

In the Kurseong constituency, Anit Thapa, the general secretary, of the Tamang faction of the Morcha, cast his vote at Naya Bazaar in Kurseong town.

"The peaceful manner in which voting was held in the Hills today has proved that their party slogan of 'Naya Soch-Naya Bichar' was headed the right direction.

Confident of a victory, he added, "It will be a victory for the entire Hill people."

(With inputs from Darjeeling, Kurseong and Jalpaiguri)