An FIR against Union Minister Babul Supriyo, damage to his vehicle, clashes between rivals TMC and BJP, lathicharge by policemen and firing in the air by central forces marked the fourth phase polling in eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal on Monday.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that there was firing by central forces inside a polling booth in Birbhum district and accused the BJP of misusing the forces in the elections.
An Election Commission official said an FIR was lodged against Supriyo on the EC's instruction for entering a polling station at Barabani under Asansol constituency, where he is the sitting MP.
The EC show-caused the Birbhum BJP candidate after he was seen talking over a mobile phone inside a polling booth just before casting his ballot.
According to reports, Supriyo had an argument with polling officials inside a booth in the polling station following which TMC workers attacked his vehicle outside it, an EC official told PTI.
Supriyo said, "I visited Barabani to witness the polling but found that voters were not being allowed to exercise their franchise. Our fight is to establish democracy ... It is shameful that I have to say this in a democratic country."
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