West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee witnessed ruckus and intense sloganeering when she reached a polling booth in Nandigram as the constituency went to polls on Thursday (April 1).
Allegations of booth capturing were rife even as the chants of “Jai Shree Ram” echoed through the area.
Banerjee, who was visibly angry at the chaos, called up Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar complaining of a total breakdown of law and order at the polling booth. She alleged that non-Bangla speaking “outsiders” were creating ruckus in the area.
“Anything might happen at any moment… There is total breakdown of law and order,” and she feared for her life, added the wheelchair-bound Chief Minister, who was escorted out by the security forces, who managed to bring the situation under control after long-drawn negotiations with the villagers.
Soon after, the Governor tweeted, “Issues flagged @MamataOfficial a while ago on phone have been imparted (sic) to the concerned”. The Election Commission has sought a report on the matter from the local administration.
Nandigram — the centrepiece of the Bengal elections, where the Chief Minister is facing her protege-turned arch-rival Suvendu Adhikari — is voting today in the second phase in a highly polarised atmosphere.
While on phone with Dhankar, the Trinamool Congress leader alleged that people who are raising slogans are outsiders and they have came from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee, who has been camping in Nandigram for last few days left from her residence around 1 p.m. and reached at a polling booth.
Voting in Nandigram is underway amid multiple allegations of disruptions by the Trinamool Congress.
Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Derek O’Brien said, “BJP and their mind games! Won’t work. It is very obvious that they are sensing defeat. And all Trinamool Congress booth agents rock solid.
“Rock solid in 354 booths in Nandigram. We have registered complaints for 10 booths. All attempts by CRPF to influence or intimidate voters not working. People determined to have Mamata Banerjee as their MLA will become Chief Minister for the third time.”
In the morning, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Mohua Moitra in a tweet said, “More than 150 EVM machines malfunctioning since Phase II voting started this morning. Wish Election Commission had put half as much effort into ensuring no EVM glitches as it did into transferring police officials.”
Voting for 30 assembly constituencies is in progress in West Bengal, including Nandigram. Adhikari has claimed that by the time polling ends for the day there will be over 80 per cent votes cast, given the serpentine queues that started since 5 a.m. two hours ahead of the polling began.
