Suvendu's ‘Hindu-Hindu’ slogans, then Mamata's ‘capture’ charge in Bhabanipur after both cast votes in big direct fight
After voting in Bhabanipur, West Bengal CM and TMC candidate Mamata Banerjee alleged “atrocities” and “capture” of polling booths by central police forces, while her opponent, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, chanted the religio-political slogans “Jai Sri Ram” and “Hindu-Hindu, bhai-bhai” after he cast his ballot three hours before her, on Wednesday.
Bhabanipur is the most high-profile contest within the ultra-charged elections in Bengal this time. Suvendu Adhikari had defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram in 2021, even as the TMC otherwise won; and she later entered the assembly via a bypoll.
“Since yesterday night, they started atrocities, and they arrested so many of our people. It is contempt of court,” Banerjee said.
While claiming that the Trinamool Congress would still win, she alleged, “The CRPF cannot torture like this. There is no state police at any booth. CRPF has captured it all. They should secure the border; instead of doing that, they are securing one political party.”
She added, “I have never seen this. I have been fighting elections since 1984, but the atrocities are terrible.”
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Adhikari walked out of the booth after voting and raised his arms with “Jai Sri Ram” chants, and said Hindus must be united.
At the booth, he was surrounded by some TMC supporters who sloganeered against him too.
Voter turnout
Overall, more than 78% of the 3.2 crore electors cast their votes in the second and final phase of West Bengal assembly polls till the afternoon on Wednesday. The turnout remained almost parallel to phase one, which had recorded over 78.77% polling till 3 pm.
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Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 83.11%, followed by Hooghly at 80.77% and Nadia at 79.79%.
Howrah registered 77.73% polling, North 24 Parganas 77.39%, while Kolkata North and Kolkata South recorded 78% and 75.38% turnout respectively. South 24 Parganas, where several prestige contests are underway, registered 76.75% voting.
