Repolling in 6 booths in plains passes off peacefully

The repolling in six booths in three municipalities in the plains where election was held on Sunday passed off peacefully on Tuesday.

There was election in seven municipalities on Saturday. Of the seven municipalities, four were in the hills — Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik and Darjeeling. The three municipalities on the plains where polling was held were Raigunj in north Dinajpur, Domkal in Murshidabad and Pujali in South 24 Parganas.

The SEC had ordered repolling after the Opposition alleged large-scale violence by the TMC on the day of election. The leaders of Congress, CPI(M) and BJP demanded election in three municipalities in the plains should be countermanded and fresh polls should be held. The municipalities where repolling was ordered by the State Election Commission were Raigunj, Domkal and Pujali. There was repolling in booth number 22 under Ward Number 7 in Raigunj while two booths (95 and 96) in Domkal and three booths (11, 12 and 19) in Pujali municipalities.

Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure peaceful repolling which began at 7 am. In Raigunj and Domkal, Congress and CPI(M) agents were not present as they had withdrawn their candidates alleging large-scale violence and intimidation of voters on the day of the election. Long queues of voters were witnessed in Raigunj which was once a Congress stronghold. Repolling was held in three booths in Pujali. Congress and CPI(M) had alleged that the TMC supporters on motorcycles had unleashed a reign of terror in the area on Saturday. Results will be announced on Wednesday.