Kolkata: Allegations of violence marked voting in the Asansol South assembly constituency on Thursday after BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul's car was allegedly vandalised near a polling booth in Rahamat Nagar, Burnpur.
Paul, an incumbent MLA, accused Trinamool of orchestrating the attack and filed a complaint at Hirapur police station, stating that the rear windowpane of her vehicle was damaged in stone-pelting.
"I was leaving the booth premises when someone pelted stones at the moving car and shattered the windowpane. Sitting in the front, I did not sustain any injury, but my PA sitting on the rear seat became scared. I went straight to the police station and lodged the FIR. It is clear who is behind the incident, manifesting an attempt on their part to influence the election. The EC has also been apprised of the incident," she told TOI.
The episode triggered tension in the area, with security stepped up. A police officer said, "We have received the complaint from BJP and a probe is on."
TMC candidate Tapas Banerjee dismissed the charge, calling it a "gameplan" on polling day. "She has brought allegation against TMC. But the incident of vandalism on her car was pre-planned to malign the image of our party. It's a false allegation. Let CCTV footage be checked to ascertain whether our party workers are behind this."
Paul also alleged rigging in the rural Nimcha area and had an argument with police over the number of vehicles accompanying her. While a woman constable said she arrived with five cars, Paul claimed only two belonged to her party and the rest were media vehicles. She further alleged that in Gargardanga, Nakrasota and booth No. 12, TMC workers distributed food to intimidate voters, a charge denied by Banerjee.
Paul cast her vote at the LIC office premises in the constituency and later alleged the possibility of fake voting during power cuts. "If there is no electricity for 15 minutes, 10 to 50 fake votes could be cast, which would benefit the TMC," she claimed.