Almost 74 percent voter turnout

Elections in six municipalities and a notified area authority on Sunday witnessed around 73.9 percent polling. Barring some stray incidents the elections were by and large peaceful, the State Election Commission stated.

Opposition parties- Congress, CPI(M) and BJP alleged rampant booth jamming, incidents of violence and intimidation of voters marred the civic elections in three municipalities – Pujali in South 24 Parganas, Domkal in Murshidabad and Raigunge in North Dinajpur.

North Dinajpur's Raigunge Municipality recorded 66 percent, Domkal 77.5 percent and Pujali recorded 79.6 percent vote.

In Raigunge, North Dinajpur district, the Opposition alleged that miscreants barged into the polling booths and intimidated voters despite the presence of police. They even cast false votes while the genuine voters were waiting outside the booths helplessly.

The opposition also alleged that infuriated over unfair polling, voters standing in queue ransacked two booths at Dwarakanath Aided Primary School in Raigunge Municipality's ward number 28. The mob broke the EVM and beat up polling officers, who later fled from the spot and sought refuge in a restroom.

Congress and CPI(M) leadership in Domkal alleged that miscreants removed the control panel of an EVM while brandishing guns and knives at polling officers in presence of police at ward number 20 in Domkal's Birpara.

The CPIM leadership in South 24 Parganas claimed that some motor bike-borne goons started firing outside a booth of Pujali Municipality's Ramchaandrapur, at ward number 9. Those miscreants captured the booth. Police later recovered empty cartridges from the spot.

CPI(M) and Congress withdrew their candidates in Raigunge Municipality elections alleging voter intimidation. Congress and CPI(M) workers broke police barricades and tried to enter the office of the State Election Commission on Shakespeare Sarani demanding re-poll in Raigunge, Domkal and Pujali Municipalities. They alleged that some miscreants unleashed a reign of terror and did not allow people to cast their votes after 9 am. Later the leaders of both the parties reached Shakespeare Sarani to lodge a complaint against the State Election Commission.

CPIM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra alleged that the election was a mockery of democracy. "We are demanding re-poll at all the wards in Pujali, Raigunge and Domkal Municipality," Mishra said.

Brushing aside the Opposition claims, senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said: "Voters in those municipalities voted for development. They know that chief minister Mamata Banerjee only works for the constructive development of the state."

In stark contrast, polling for the four municipal areas in North Bengal passed off peacefully with no reports of any untoward incident except for a single arrest in connection with a lady allegedly trying to cast a false vote.

Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik in the Darjeeling district along with the Kalimpong in the Kalimpong district went to civic polls on Sunday. The main forces contesting the elections included the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM- the ruling party in the hills,) the TMC-GNLF coalition and the Jan Andolan Party (JAP, concentrated in Kalimpong.)

"Darjeeling is known for peace. The day passed off peacefully. There was no report of any untoward incident in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik" stated Joyoshi Dasgupta, DM, Darjeeling. Kalimpong painted a similar picture.

Ranjita Thami, a 30-year-old woman of Ging Tea Estate, Darjeeling was arrested from the Junior BT College booth in Rockville Road, Darjeeling. "Before she could cast her vote she was challenged by TMC and Independent candidates polling agents. She has been arrested and a case has been initiated" stated Amit P Javalgi, SP, Darjeeling.

A vehicle carrying mainly lady police constables returning from Kalimpong after poll duty met with an accident at Sevok enroute to Siliguri. All injured were rushed to hospital and are recovering.

The voting percentage stood at 77.9% in Mirik; 59.9% in Darjeeling; 71.8% in Kurseong and 65.16% in Kalimpong. All the political outfits unanimously agreed that the civic polls in the Hills were conducted in a free and fair manner.

"This election is historic. Earlier there used to be selections and not elections. This time it was free and fair elections held in a conducive atmosphere. So much so that even independent candidates contested. Credit goes to the Mamata Banerjee Government" stated NB Khawas, Working President, TMC (Hills) who had also contested as the TMC candidate from Ward 20, Darjeeling.

The GJM agreed that elections were peaceful and democratic in the Hills. "This is because of the GJM. The places where the TMC is in power including Raigunj, Domakal and Pujali it was more of a battlefield than elections. We are confident that we will form the boards" stated Roshan Giri, General Secretary, GJM.