BJP, TMC cross swords over use of security forces in first

The BJP and the TMC Thursday engaged in a war of words with the two parties accussing

each other of using state police and central forces to "manipulate" the voting process in Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat, which went to polls Thursday in the first phase.

Polling was held in two north Bengal seats - Cooch Behar and Alipurduar - in the first phase and around 81 voter turnout was registered.

"In the booths where state police was in charge of the security, voting didn't take place properly. There have been rampant malpractices. We feel that repoll should be ordered in those booths," BJP's Cooch Behar candidate Nishit Pramanik said.

 

Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee alleged that the BJP has used the central forces to terrorise the voters.

TMC leader and North Bengal Development Minister Rabindranath Ghosh claimed that EVMs malfunctioned in several booths and it could be part of a conspiracy to manipulate votes.

"I have never seen such an election ever in my life. Jut within two hours, so many EVMs have started Malfunctioning. I have been calling the observers and nobody is answering," Ghosh told PTI.

The TMC and the BJP are the main contenders in the two north Bengal seats, while the CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress are fighting to prove their existence.

Left Party constituent Forward Bloc is contesting from Cooch Behar and RSP in Alipurduar.