WB: CPM wants repoll in 40 booths in two seats

Kolkata: The CPM on Wednesday demanded repoll in 40 booths in two constituencies in North 24-Parganas district where the third phase of Assembly polls were held.

"We have demanded repoll in 22 booths in Bijpur and in 18 booths in the Haroa constituencies," CPM state secretary Biman Bose told a press conference.

Repoll has been demanded in the 40 booths as the CPM polling agents there were either manhandled or prevented from performing their duty, Bose alleged.

Bose said the CPM polling agent in booth 93 of Bijpur constituency was injured in an attack by TMC activists who hit him with a revolver butt. CPM polling agents were also not allowed inside booths 3,9,10, 15 and 16 of the Bijpur constituency. He alleged that TMC candidate from Bijpur Shubhrangshu Roy was involved in the incidents.

CPM supporters in six villages under the Haroa constituency were obstructed by TMC on their way to polling stations, he said.

Bose also alleged that a septuagenarian CPM supporter died of a heart attack after he was pushed by a central force man at the Duttapukur Shibmoni Primary School polling station in the Amdanga constituency.

"Bimal Roy, a local leader of our party, was challenged by the jawan as he was wearing a lungi. Although Roy showed his photo identity card, he was pushed by the jawan. He fell down and had a heart attack. He died later," Bose said.

Two women, Renuka Haldar (70) and Momina Sardar (65) died of heart attack in the Kultali and Cannin West constituencies respectively, he said.

While rubbishing TMC claims that his party rigged the elections, Bose said, "The TMC leader complains of rigging on one hand and on the other, says that her party will get 160-170 seats. How can she make this prediction unless her party has indulged in rigging?"

Asked to comment about his party leader Gautam Deb submitting documents to the Election Commission about his complaint that the TC was using black money in the elections, Bose said, "Our demand is simple. We want to know who is funding (the Trinamool chairperson's) helicopter tours. Our party leader Sitaram Yechuri has also taken up the matter with the EC."