Published 18:13 IST, April 29th 2019
EC directs lodging of FIR against Babul Supriyo, alleges he entered poll booth forcefully and threatened polling officers
Following the ruckus in a poll booth in Barabani area of Asansol where Union Minister Babul Supriyo had a heated argument with poll officers after allegedly entering the booth forcefully, the Election Commission has directed to register FIR against the minister.
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Following the ruckus in a poll booth in Barabani area of Asansol where Union Minister Babul Supriyo had a heated argument with poll officers after allegedly entering the booth forcefully, the Election Commission has directed to register FIR against the minister. As voting in the fourth phase of elections was underway in West Bengal's Asansol, TMC goons allegedly clashed with security personnel, vandalised Supriyo's car and also attacked Republic crew.
Supriyo, the sitting MP of the Asansol parliamentary constituency, has been re-nominated by the BJP, where he is pitted against the Trinamool Congress' actor-turned-politician Moon Moon Sen.
The incident took place when Supriyo went inside a polling booth to ensure that his party agents were allowed inside, following which the rear glass of the vehicle was shattered.
"They are trying to stop me. But they won't be able to stop me like this. I will move to ensure that BJP agents are allowed. These men have attacked my car but said I was resorting to hooliganism. It is a ploy to confine me at a place but I will move. Central force can take charge of the booths but the agents are not able to come out from their houses. I will try to go to as many places as possible and help them. This is the modus operandi of the ruling party," Supriyo told the media. Trinamool workers, on the other hand, alleged that Supriyo and his men had manhandled them.
The Election Commission then sought a detailed report has been in the matter. As per reports, the EC has now directed to register an FIR for allegedly trespassing into booth number 199 and threatening a polling agent and an officer.
In the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, nine states are going to the polls today with 72 seats up for the grabs. In West Bengal, eight constituencies are witnessing polling including, Baharampur, Krishnagar, Ranaghat (SC), Burdwan East (SC), Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC) and Birbhum.
Along with national parties BJP and Congress, in West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) are the key players in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
17:35 IST, April 29th 2019