Violence Reported as Nandigram Goes to Polls Today

Violence in Nandigram on the poll day!

Thursday, 1st April 2021

It is elections day in Nandigram today- the seat of controversy between Trinamool supremo Mamata Bannerjee and arch-rival, one–time protégé, and current BJP candidate, Suvendu Adhikari.

Derek O’Brien from the TMC clan has brought to the notice of the Election Commission of an alleged booth capture in Nandigram by the workers of BJP or the Bhartiya Janata Party. He wrote, “Huge mob of BJP workers have entered booth no. s 6, 7, 49, 27, 162, 21, 26, 13, 262, 256, 163, 20. BJP workers attempting to take control of EVM & rigging the booth.”

Following violence and hurling of stones at a car belonging to a BJP candidate, Keshpur was placed under high security.

Also Read: Final Roadshows by Amit Shah And Mamata Bannerjee in Nandigram Ahead of Assembly Polls.

Suvendu Adhikari and family were popular political figures in the constituency situated in East Medinipur district, Nandigram. Adhikari family, in fact, has a traditional hold in that area. He had joined hands with the TMC and in the year 2007, under Mamata Bannerjee’s influence had led a popular uprising against a chemical plant that was to be set up there. This had eventually gained them enough support that ultimately dismantled the CPI(M) rule that had lasted more than three decades in the state.

Adhikari, disconcerted with CM Mamata Bannerjee’s obvious favouring of her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and promoting him to positions of power, shifted loyalty and joined the BJP in December. He has, ever since, been running a deeply polarizing campaign in Nandigram, where nearly 30% of residents are Muslims.

Mamata Bannerjee was quick to rise to the bait and upset with the unexpected betrayal took up the challenge posed in Nandigram, which has now turned into a prestige fight, neither can bear to lose.

In the past few weeks, Mamata has been seen campaigning in a wheelchair in Nandigram after she injured her leg there the same day as she filed her nomination. She has also been seen visiting multiple temples and making references to her religion.

Thirty constituencies in the state of West Bengal and 39 in the state of Assam are voting today. While Bengal logged a turnout of 37.4% voters by 11 am, Assam recorded 27.45%.

Bengal’s 10,620 booths, where the second phase polling, are being conducted have been termed “sensitive” by the Election Commission. All the 355 booths in Nandigram have been declared sensitive. Nearly 651 companies of central forces have been deployed by the EC, with 22 companies in the Nandigram constituency alone along with aerial surveying with drones and helicopters.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source:

NDTV