BALURGHAT/CHOPRA: From running into Trinamool Congress's "go back slogans" and losing his temper to shouting at an on-duty cop, Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was on his toes throughout the polling day on Friday.
At Patirampur booth of Tapan, Majumdar was involved in a heated altercation with TMC workers early in the day. Even as the TMC workers shouted "go back" slogan, Majumder alleged that BJP workers were assaulted and humiliated, but the police were doing nothing.The drama started as soon as the BJP state chief arrived at the booth with his wife to cast their votes. Majumdar initially "did not find" his name on the voters' list. This led to a commotion at the polling station. He eventually found his name at the bottom of the list.
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"Flouting all norms, TMC workers gathered and raised slogans within 100 metres of the booth. Our Yuba Morcha secretary was assaulted, our woman workers were humiliated. They even restricted me from entering the booth," he said. Majumdar made a video on his mobile and sent it to the Election Commission, leading police and EC to rush in reinforcements.
However, local TMC workers accused Majumdar of abusing them. State education minister Bratya Basu said, "We are well aware of the foul-mouthed behaviour of Sukanta Majumdar and today, we witnessed how he charged at an on-duty IC. This is the same person who made derogatory remarks about the CM's clothes and called Swami Vivekananda a 'Leftist product'."
State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, "If we talk about the phase I polling, the Union MoS and MP will become a former MP there. We will see the same outcome in Balurghat as the sitting MP will become a former MP."
Majumdar's complaints did neither end there, nor his run-in with Trinamool workers. "At Itahar at the behest of local MLA Musharaf Hossain, some voters are being threatened," he alleged. Hossain denied the charge.
At ward 22 of Balurghat Municipality, claimed the BJP chief, party worker Rakhi Shil was allegedly assaulted by TMC ward committee member Kabita Mohanta. Mahnata denied the allegation saying, "Shil was trying to influence voters and was restrained." At Gangarampur, Majumdar again came face to face with TMC workers.