West Bengal by-polls: BJP candidate alleges attack by TMC workers

Just a few hours after voting in the by-polls began in West Bengal, a skirmish has reportedly broken out in the Chowringhee assembly constituency located in the heart of Kolkata. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, young turk Ritesh Tiwary has alleged that local TMC councillor Santanu Sen and another TMC leader Anwar Khan were resorting to booth capturing. According to Tiwary, when he reached the spot and tried to stop the two TMC workers, he was attacked. Workers from both parties then got involved in skirmish. The police arrived and finally brought the situation under control. The Election Commission has decided to take cognisance of the matter, according to media sources. 

In Barasat Dakshin, voting has been relatively peaceful, though the BJP candidate had already alleged even before voting started that the TMC would resort to strongarm tactics. 

Incidentally, the TMC was trailing in both the two assembly sections in the recent Lok Sabha elections. This is a prestige battle for TMC and Mamata Banerjee in the wake of Saradha chit fund scam and the increased presence of the BJP in the state. 

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