The Mamata Banerjee government may have congratulated itself for peaceful elections in the Jangalmahal, but Opposition Congress and CPI(M) cried foul. The CPI(M) chairman Biman Bose said this was not a free and fair election.
“There were incidents of rigging and booth capturing. The workers of the ruling party adopted terror tactics to intimidate Left Front candidates, polling agents and voters. Then how can the poll be described as free and fair?” he asked.
According to Mr Bose, there were massive riggings in West Midnapore and Bankura, while the situation was not so bad in Purulia. “In West Midnapore, a large number of booths were captured in Pingla, Salboni, Dasupur, Ghatal, Debra, Danton, Mohanpur, Chandrakona, Midnapore Sadar, Garbeta, Goaltore, Keshpu and Belda,” he added. In Bankura, he alleged, rigging took place in Bishnupur, Joypur, Indus, Taldangra, Parthashayer, Mejia and Borjora. He said from the speeches of the TMC leaders, including the CM, it was clear that there would be poll rigging.