Nandigram: The Nandigram bypoll on Tuesday recorded a turnout of 80.8% by 7pm, despite allegations that many voters were not allowed to vote. The contrast also extended to post-poll comments by political rivals, with CM Suvendu Adhikari asserting “We will win”, while the opposition alleged “rigging” and demanded a repoll.Of the two blocks in the East Midnapore assembly constituency, most of the complaints of voter intimidation came from the minority-dominated Nandigram I.“In 2016, I won (from Nandigram) by my highest margin — 82,000 votes. I believe the record will be broken this time. People will once again repose faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state govt,” said Adhikari, who vacated Nandigram in favour of Bhabanipur, necessitating the bypoll.“Go around the entire area and see for yourselves: on election day, the opposition has done none of what they should have — no booth camps, no polling agents, nothing… It seems people do not know them… People have high expectations of this five-month-old govt,” the CM said after casting his vote at Nandanayakbar Primary School in Nandigram II.Polling began early, with long queues seen in front of many booths across the constituency as early as 6 am.“We are voting for development,” said Mir Ali after exercising his franchise at Samsabad Primary School in Nandigram I. “The CM has asked us to ensure a peaceful friendship day (referring to Adhikari’s appeal to the minorities to vote for BJP).”BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, who expressed confidence about victory at 10 am, started touring the constituency at 7.30 am after offering prayers at multiple temples in Reyapara. She reached Nandanayakbar around noon, when CM Adhikari was casting his vote.“The CM advised me to tour the constituency… I am going to Sonachura now,” said Rath, whose son Chandranath was Adhikari’s personal assistant for several years till he was gunned down two days after the assembly poll results were announced on May 4.Taking a dig at his rivals, she said, “Where is the opposition? They are not here because no one supports them. We don’t need to resort to violence. It is like a festival here today. When the EVMs are opened, you will realise that even the minorities are supporting us,” Rath said.Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who was arrested in a 2007 case days before the bypoll and later granted bail, alleged widespread rigging. Shortly after he cast his vote in Sonachura, BJP workers surrounded him, questioning his statements that polling agents of opposition candidates were forced out of booths. BJP said residents were protesting against “fake narratives”.Throughout the day, Pradhan travelled across Nandigram, addressing complaints of agents being forced to leave booths, voters being turned away, and assault and vandalism.Congress alleged that Ashrafula, the party’s Nandigram I president, was detained by police and kept away during the voting process.“Our agents are not being allowed to stay in booths. This election has been looted. In Nandigram, BJP is afraid of Congress,” Pradhan said.Shubhankar Sarkar, president of Congress’s Bengal unit, demanded a repoll in Nandigram and Rejinagar, alleging rigging and voter intimidation.Many voters alleged they were turned away from booths. Kalipada Pradhan, a resident of Balarampur in Boyal in Nandigram II, turned up at the local primary school to vote around 10.30 am. “I was told that I did not need to vote,” he alleged. By the time Pradhan arrived to help him at 3.45 pm and report the matter to Election Commission, Kalipada had given up. “Please come in the evening and protect me,” he told the Congress candidate.Syam Kazi, an anti-land acquisition activist who lost his brother in the 2007 agitation, said people in his neighbourhood were warned “to not meddle” in politics. “We were being threatened since 48 hours before the elections,” said Akiba Khatoon, a resident of Kazi’s village, Garchakraberia in Nandigram I. After a few of the 500-odd voters in the area exercised their franchise in the morning, a gang vandalised Kazi’s shop and asked residents to “stay at home” as the voting was over. “After that, we did not dare step out,” said Akiba.Subhani Chak, a minority-dominated area in Nandigram I, had been tense since early in the morning. Many women alleged that their voter slips were snatched outside the booths and they were asked to head back home without casting their votes. “BJP workers were behind this,” said a woman.“Today is a day of betrayal, not friendship. Terror ruled Nandigram since morning. My agents were beaten and driven out (of the booths),” ISF candidate Sabe Mirza Khan said.Although Mamata Trinamool extended support to Congress, most local functionaries of the former CM’s party, including Sheikh Sufian and Pabitra Kar, who lost to Adhikari in the assembly polls, were absent from Nandigram throughout the day. Ahead of the polls, Mamata Trinamool candidate Sanchita Dey Pradhan had withdrawn her nomination after meeting Adhikari.
