“Hooligans have been let loose”: Congress candidate Milan Pradhan
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan claims hooligans have been let loose in Nandigram as his polling agent was allegedly taken away during voting.
The Nandigram Assembly bypoll has been rocked by serious allegations of intimidation and lawlessness. Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate contesting the seat, has accused local elements of creating a reign of terror, claiming that “hooligans have been let loose” in the area over the last two days.
Allegations of Agent Abduction
Speaking to reporters amidst the ongoing voting process, Pradhan expressed deep concern over the safety of his team and the sanctity of the democratic process. He alleged that the situation has escalated significantly, claiming his polling agent was forcibly taken away.
“This is a by-election. Citizens have to certainly vote in the election. That is our freedom. Hooligans have been let loose here for two days now. They picked up my polling agent. This is not right,” Pradhan stated. He further noted that while the matter had been brought to the attention of the election office, the response from authorities has been insufficient.
Conflicting Reports from Election Officials
While the Congress candidate paints a picture of chaos, election officials on the ground are offering a starkly different account. At polling station 79, located at the Nandanayakbar Primary School, Presiding Officer Alok Bag maintained that the process is moving along without incident.
“There is no problem in polling. Everything has been peaceful since yesterday. Everything is fine. Our preparations are in place,” Bag said, emphasizing that tight security measures and webcasting are in effect to ensure transparency. He added that the station, which has 709 voters, would continue polling until 6 pm.
Context of the Nandigram Bypoll
The Nandigram seat became vacant following the recent Assembly elections, where Suvendu Adhikari won from two constituencies and opted to retain one, leaving the other open for this by-election. This contest is part of a larger wave of bypolls occurring across several states, including:
- West Bengal: Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies.
- Tamil Nadu and Puducherry: Various Assembly seats.
- Assam: One Lok Sabha seat.
In Rejinagar, the seat fell vacant following the resignation of Humayun Kabir, the founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP). The counting of votes for these crucial contests is scheduled to take place on October 9, with the Election Commission aiming to conclude the entire process by October 11.