1,500 Malda voters boycotted polls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 8: Nearly 1,500 voters boycotted the Assembly poll today to protest against non-availability of basic amenities in Malda district, election officials said. Voter turnout was otherwise good and election observers stated they were satisfied with voting arrangements made by the Election Commission here. The district recorded an average of 23 per cent voter turnout by 11 a.m. and 38 per cent turnout by 1 p.m. except at polling booth No 20 in Manikchak and polling booth No 126 in Ratua, where polling was boycotted by villagers. Additional magistrate general Mr BP Barat confirmed that no untoward incident was reported during polling today. Eight electronic voting machines went out of order and one ballot unit was replaced, he said. Reportedly, Congress and CPI-M leaders alleged that some Central paramilitary forces personnel prevented polling agents from entering poll booths. The district CPI-M party office alleged that the CPMF personnel detained a Forward Bloc candidate in Harishchnadrapur and the matter was reported to deputy election commissioner, Mr Anand Kumar, by the district CPI-M secretary. Officials said four CPI-M workers were arrested in the Habibpur Assembly segment for circulating leaflets to voters. CPI-M party sources said the leaflets were meant to alert voters against BJP workers’ attack. This charge was denied by BJP leaders. Two BJP workers were reportedly arrested for allegedly setting ablaze a vehicle carrying CPI-M workers on the night of 6 May. Malda SP Mr KDK Mondal refrained from commenting on the incident. He said: “It is difficult to say anything prior to an investigation”. Deputy election commissioner Mr Kumar visited a few polling stations in the English Bazaar town and other Assembly segments this morning. Later, he left to visit other districts in North Bengal. Mr Anil Srivastava, election observer at the ITI polling station in English Bazaar (Ward No. 24), checked the voters’ Epics and expressed satisfaction over peaceful polling. Central forces extended help to aged and ailing voters. One Central force personnel was reported to have died of illness yesterday.