Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 22 APRIL: Polling was concluded peacefully in nine assembly seats in Nadia without major incidents of violence, rigging, intimidation and allegation against security personnel today.
According to Election Commission, voter turnout has been recorded as 82.70 percent till 7.32 pm.
People came out spontaneously to vote in most of the areas, implying that they have made ‘revolution’ silently.
The district election official said the polling was peaceful barring a few stray incidents at few locations in Krishnagar, Nabadwip and Karimpur areas.
Long queues were seen outside most of the polling booths since the initial hours with people choosing to vote early to avoid any untoward incident.
At many places, voters were seen without masks despite COVID-19 cases increasing across the state and the country.
The security forces ensured social distancing at the booths, while poll officials provided masks, hand sanitisers and polythene gloves to the voters.
The most sensitive assembly constituency-Chapra, which is minority dominated, recorded ‘zero’ incident of violence. Since early morning, electors especially women queued up at most of the booths and exercised their franchises.
“We are happy on the steps taken by the district administration. In the last panchayat polls, we could not cast our votes. This time, we spontaneously went to the booths and exercised our rights,” said Ashman Sheikh, a resident of Majherpara-Muslimpara in Chapra.
Biswajit Ghosh, SP, Krishnagar Police District said they have arrested 180 ‘key persons’ as preventive measures. “Due to preventive arrest of criminals and anti-social before the election polling was ended peacefully,” said an administrative official.
In Krishnagar, BJP workers chanted ‘Jai Sri Ram’ when the TMC candidate Koushani Mukherjee reached booth Nos 179 and 180. Security officials immediately rescued her to safe place.
This apart, BJP workers forcefully stopped Sisir Karmakar, a former TMC councilor from ward No 8 from visiting booths along with the party candidate Mukherjee. Following this, Sibnath Chowdhury, TMC Krishnagar Uttar Town president, was also denied taking photos and videos, even after showing his press card.
TMC alleged that BJP workers also beat up their workers in presence of CRPF jawans who didn’t take any action.
BJP workers in Karimpur alleged that TMC goons tried to jam booths 140, 152, 160 and 175 to 180 in the morning, but Election Commission after getting complaints sent Quick Response Team who immediately dispersed the unwanted men from the voters’ queue.
In Nabadwip, BJP alleged that their party workers were attacked near booth no 8 when they raised protest against the Trinamul Congress workers who assembled near the booth. Three BJP workers have been injured, they claimed.
In Nadia, polling was held at Karimpur, Tehatta, Palashipara, Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnagar Uttar, Nabadwip and Krishnagar Dakshin assembly constituencies. A total of 163 companies of Central forces were deployed in these nine assembly constituencies.
