Sabang bypoll: Bhuniya rubbishes Oppn claims of violence

Kolkata: The by-election in Sabang Assembly constituency passed peacefully on Thursday with 74.89 per cent votes recorded till 3p.m.

The seat fell vacant after sitting Congress MLA Dr Manas Bhuniya joined Trinamool Congress and became a Rajya Sabha MP. His spouse Gitarani is the Trinamool Congress candidate.

Polling in the constituency is being held amid tight security with eight companies of Central forces being deployed.

The Opposition CPI(M) and BJP have accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of driving away their election agents from the polling booths, which was denied by TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manas Bhuniya.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh criticised TMC for resorting to terror during the polls.

"The election results will not reflect the real mandate of the people. The people of Sabang could not vote freely and fairly due to the terror tactics of TMC," he said. Ghosh's view was echoed by CPI(M) and Congress.

"TMC has been doing this in each and every election. They know that they will lose Sabang and that is why they resorted to violence," Leader of Opposition and state Congress leader Abdul Mannan said.

TMC, however, denied the allegations and said the people have voted in favour of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's developmental politics.

"The allegations made by the Opposition parties are completely baseless. Voting has been peaceful in the constituency," Bhuniya said.

The BJP has nominated Antara Bhattacharya, while the Congress has fielded Chiranjib Bhowmick, a local leader. Rita Mandal of the CPI(M) is contesting as the Left Front candidate.