Amid on-going third phase of assembly elections in West Bengal, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged "blatant misuse" of central forces to "influence voters".
"The blatant misuse of Central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue, @ECISVEEP continues to be a mute spectator while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters & influence many to vote in favour of one party," Mamata Banerjee tweeted. She shared a video of a scuffle between BJP and TMC supporters in Goghat constituency.
Mamata Banerjee also claimed that BJP activists were forcibly occupying polling booths and attacking TMC members, including party candidates, and asserted that she would not get bogged down by such "intimidatory tactics", reported PTI.
Addressing a public meeting in Alipurduar district, the TMC supremo said her party's nominee in Arambagh, Sujata Mondal, was chased and hit on head near a polling booth by saffron party workers.
"They have inflicted serious injury on our Scheduled Caste candidate Sujata, when she visited a booth. They also hit another candidate in Khanakul. In Canning East, security forces prevented our nominee Shaukat Mollah from entering a booth. There had been numerous such instances of attack on our candidates, party workers across the state," Banerjee said.
She further said that she has received at least 100 complaints of assault and violence since morning, and the EC has been duly informed but to no avail.
Alleging that a deep-rooted conspiracy has been hatched by the BJP leadership in Delhi after experiencing "poor turnout" in rallies, Banerjee said "Security forces have been asked not to resist booth capturing."
"Four of our activists have been murdered since the elections began, but no action has been taken. But you (BJP) cannot terrorise us, intimidate us by such acts," Banerjee added.
Meanwhile, around 53.89 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1.30 pm as the polling for the third phase of West Bengal Assembly elections is underway.
(With inputs from PTI)
