All India Trinamool Congress supporters on Saturday raised slogans against BJP candidate from Kolkata North Lok Sabha seat, Tapas Roy, outside a polling booth in Kolkata alleging that the BJP has conducted proxy voting .
Voting began this morning at 7 in West Bengal’s nine seats including– Barasat, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Dum Dum, Jaynagar, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar, and Mathurapur.
Roy, however has dismissed the allegations stating, “I don’t know about proxy votes, their polling agents are present there (at the polling booth).”
The BJP leader is pitted against Congress’ Pradip Bhattacharya and Trinamool’s Sudip Bandopadhyay from the Kolkata North Lok Sabha seat.
In another incident, Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were looted by local mobs and two VVPAT machines were thrown inside a pond in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, officials said.
According to the Chief Electoral Office, West Bengal, an FIR has been lodged by the Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated.
“Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs and papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU, 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond,” CEO West Bengal posted on X.
The CEO further informed that fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer.
“Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by the Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. The poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer,” the CEO added.
After the close of voting on June 1, the outcome of exit polls will be aired on various TV channels. The Election Commission has issued a ban on exit polls from 7 am on April 19 to 6:30 pm on June 1, till the conclusion of polling.
Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha is seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases.
