Low voter turnout recorded in high-voltage Bhabanipur by-poll seat

The high-profile assembly constituency of Bhabanipur recorded a polling percentage of 53.32 % till 5 P.M. In Samserganj, it was 78.60% while in Jangipur it was 76.12%, according to data available from the Election Commission of India.

The voter turnout trend was very low from the morning. It was only 7.5 per cent at 9 am. On the other hand, the two other assembly constituencies of Jangipur in Murshidabad district and Samserganj recorded 17.5 and 16.3 per cent polling respectively,

The low voting trend continued during the day in Bhabanipur. At 1 PM, 35.97 % polling was reported in Bhabanipur while it was much higher in Jangipur with 53.78 % and 57.15 % in Samserganj. Compared to Jangipur and Samserganj, polling percentage in Bhabanipur was the lowest.

Polling in Bhabanipur assembly seat continued at the same pace, with 48.08 per cent turnout till 3 pm, EC officials said. While the polling percentage in Samserganj was 72.45 % and 68.17% in Jangipur.

According to poll observers, similar trends have reflected during 2011 and 2016. Around 61.72 polling percent was reported in 2016 and in 2011 by-poll was even less, something around 44.5%. “The voter turnout is lower in by-poll despite Mamata Banerjee contesting the seat as they are casting their vote for the second time. In case of Samserganj and Jangipur, polling did not take place,” a poll analyst said.

“The voter turnout trend in Bhabanipur is generally very low. Everytime, it is always around 50 per cent. We have noticed this earlier also,” Firhad Hakim, the state minister said.

Trinamool candidate and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cast her ballot at 3.15 PM in Mitra Institution. Her nephew and Trinamool National general secretary Abhisek Banerjee also cast his vote today afternoon at the same polling booth.

Meanwhile, polling was more or less peaceful in Bhabanipur Constituency by-poll except a few sporadic incidents. BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey was allegedly attacked by motorbike-borne miscreants and his vehicle was vandalized near Booth No160 at St John’s Diocesan School.

“Few bike-borne miscreants gheraoed me near Padmapukur and they started hitting, punching and banging my car. They vandalized the vehicle and I had a narrow escape. We have identified fake voters voting peacefully with false voter slips at St John’s Diocesan School and Khalsa School. The attack was revenge that followed,” Chaubey claimed.

In another incident, tension erupted in Bhabanipur Constituency on Thursday afternoon as a fake voter was allegedly caught by BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal at Khalsa High School in the Constituency.

After the alleged fake voter was identified, scuffle broke out outside the polling booth between BJP and Trinamool workers. The voter claimed that he was a resident of Bansdroni but was not carrying any identity proof. Further Central force deployment was done at Khalsa High School to control the situation. Complaint was lodged by the BJP has been lodged in EC. The Election Commision said that they are keeping a watch on the incident.

“Apart from Khalsa, there is an attempt to booth jamming in other locations by Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra,” BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal claimed.

“The Police did not take any action was a silent onlooker to the incident. He did not take any action against the fake voter. One Gurmeet Singh, who is Trinamool Hindi cell secretary, came to the fake voter’s rescue and helped him to leave the school premises,” BJP leaders claimed.

BJP alleged massive rigging at Ramesh Mitra School and Bhawanipur Education Society as well.

BJP also alleged that Trinamool leader Sayandeb Chattopadhyay took photographs inside the polling booth after casting vote and had posted in social media. However, Trinamool Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay denied such allegations.

Trinamool Congress has complained to EC about Priyanka Tibrewal moving around the Constituency with a convoy of 20 vehicles, disrupting the polling process.

The polling began at 7 a.m. in the morning. The election was necessitated after Trinamool MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay vacated the Bhabanipur seat for Mamata Banerjee. The votes will be counted on October 3.