Kolkata: Re-polling is underway at 568 booths across West Bengal on Wednesday after a spate of violence during the panchayat elections earlier this week.
Since 7am, polling is underway across 20 districts amid heavy security arrangements.
On Tuesday, the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) decided to conduct re-polling. The WBSEC has taken the decision after it received more than 1,000 complaints related to poll violence and booth capturing on Monday.
In a statement, the ploll panel said, “In Hooghly, re-polling will be held in 10 booths, 28 booths in West Midnapore, five booths in Jalpaiguri, 52 Cooch Behar, 63 booths in Murshidabad, seven booths in Purulia, 60 booths in Nadia, 35 booths in South Dinajpur, three booths in West Burdwan, 59 booths in North 24-Parganas, 55 booths in Malda, six in Birbhum, five in Bankura, 73 in North Dinajpur, 26 booths in South-Parganas, 23 in East Midnapore, two in Alipurduar, 18 in East Burdwan and 38 booths in Howrah. In Jhargram, there will be no re-polling.”
The BJP said that there should be re-polling in every booth in Bengal because of large scale booth capturing and violence by the Trinamool Congress.
“The state election commission completely failed in providing adequate security measures. In most places, our supporters were beaten up and were not allowed to cast their votes,” said state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh.
On May 14, widespread violence marred the panchayat polls in West Bengal on Monday, leaving at least 20 people dead and over 70 injured.
Concerned over poll violence, the Union Home Ministry had sought a report from the West Bengal government.
MHA’s intervention came after state BJP delegation led by t Dilip Ghosh had met West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi and complained about the violence across the state.
Incidents of booth capturing and other strong-arm tactics to intimidate voters were seen at Nadia, Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, Egra in Paschim Medinipur, Mohammedbazar in Birbhum, Dinhata in Cooch Behar.
Nearly 71,000 security personnel from West Bengal and neighbouring states were deployed for the panchayat polls.
The panchayat election assumes significance as it is the last major poll in the state before the 2019 general elections.
Polling took place in nearly 38,500 seats but the actual panchayat seats is 58,692. Since 34 % has been won by TMC (highest in last 35 years) unopposed – voting held in in nearly 38,500 seats.
There are total 3,354 gram panchayats, 9,240 seats in 341 panchayat samitis and 825 seats in 20 zilla parishads across the 20 districts in Bengal.
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