Election Commission (EC) officials recorded 80 per cent of voters as having exercised their franchise in the repolling held today at 16 booths, falling under Serampore, Jangipur, Asansol and Uluberia, Howrah and Burdwan East parliamentary seats. The repoll was ordered yesterday on the basis of complaints lodged with the EC by various political parties on the day of the second phase of polls in the state. Repolling was held at nine booths in Howrah and Uluberia Parliamentary constituencies and 70 per cent of voters were reported as using their democratic right. Complaints of massive rigging and booth capture had been reported to the EC from these nine booths in Howrah.
A violent clash between supporters of the CPI-M and Trinamul Congress had occurred in booth 27 in Domjur, under Serampore seat. During repolling, 70 per cent of voters were recorded as having exercised their franchise in booth 27.In Hooghly, a repoll was conducted in booth 108 in Jangipara under Serampore seat, where voting had not been conducted originally due to a faulty EVM. The EC had arranged strong security cover for the repolling in three booths in Burdwan, where large scale violence had been reported during the poll on Thursday. No trouble was reported during the re-poll at the two booths in Raina and Katwa, Burdwan district, where an average of 84 per cent polling was reported.
Repolling in booth 281/7 in Kanyapur, Asansol ~ where a Trinamul Congress supporter, Akshay Bauri, had reportedly been murdered on the initial polling day ~ passed off peacefully with 67 per cent polling recorded. The police force, led by Mr US Mukherjee, DSP (headquarter), was deployed at the premises of this booth to prevent further trouble. Mr Bharat Mondal, another voter of this booth, said: "We all condemn the murder of Akshay. By casting our votes we are paying a tribute to him." The repoll was also peaceful in two booths in Murshidabad, with 80 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise. Repoll was ordered in booth 109 (A) in Lalgola and 135 in Khargram ~ both under Jangipur parliamentary seat ~ due to faulty EVMs.
Source: The Statesman No violence reported during repolling
