Bengal Election: Mamata Rescued From Nandigram Poll Booth As TMC And BJP Collide

Mamata at Nandigram poll booth: Trinamool Congress (TMC) party chief Mamata Banerjee has raised questions on the law and order situation during election in the aftermath of violent clashes and claims of rigging in Nandigram. She had stationed herself near the polling booth at Boyal Maqtab school in the constituency after claims allegedly emerged of vote jamming by workers of opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Election officers at Boyal, which is booth 7, alleged that some elements were not allowing people to vote for the constituency seat which is seeing tough face-off between Banerjee and BJP's Suvendhu Adhikari.

As per local reports, Banerjee refused to budge from the spot in Boyal, iterating that her presence there was necessary, seeing the volatile situation. But her presence seemed to prompt further aggravation between the two primary oppositions and the Bengal Chief Minister had to be rescued by central forces amid rising clashes on location.

Mamata at Nandigram poll booth as situation tenses

Banerjee's arrival at Boyal reportedly sparked chants of 'Jai Shree Ram' in and around the polling booth. "None of the people are speaking in the Bengali language. All of them are outsiders. They are goons sent from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and they are being protected by Central forces," she said as per news agency ANI.

After being removed from the violent site, the TMC supremo dialled the governor complaining of a law and order breakdown. "They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote. From morning I am campaigning... Now I am appealing to you," she

#WATCH: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee speaks to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the phone at a polling booth in Nandigram. She says, "...They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote. From morning I am campaigning...Now I am appealing to you, please see..." pic.twitter.com/mjsNQx38BB

Launching a frontal attack on Amit Shah, Banerjee has also said, "Home Minister himself is instructing CRPF, BSF and other jawans to help only BJP and its goons."

#WATCH: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee speaks to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the phone at a polling booth in Nandigram. She says, "...They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote. From morning I am campaigning...Now I am appealing to you, please see..." pic.twitter.com/mjsNQx38BB

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2021

Her aide-turned-rival Adhikari, whose convoy was reportedly attacked by stones in Nandigram, reached Boyal a few hours later and said to media, "She doesn't have any support. She has lost it (the poll)."

Reports suggested early hours of polling in Nandigram and other constituencies in Bengal, as the second phase began April 1, was fairly smooth and, despite the looming threat of clashes between rival parties, did not see violence. TMC leaders however have been alleging several glitches in the voting setup.

Mahua Moitra raised concerns around Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), writing on Twitter, "More than 150 EVM machines malfunctioning since Phase II voting started this morning." MP Derek O'Brien meanwhile wrote, "We have registered complaints for 10 specific booths. All attempts by CRPF to influence/intimidate voters not working."

More than 150 EVM machines malfunctioning since Phase II voting started this morning

Wish @ECISVEEP had put half as much effort into ensuring no EVM glitches as it did into transferring police officials ..

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 1, 2021