Bypolls in three Bengal Assembly constituencies were overall peaceful on Monday, barring an attack on Karimpur BJP candidate Jay Prakash Majumdar and some other incidents.

Apart from Karimpur in Nadia district, the byelections were held in Kaliaganj (North Dinajpur) and Kharagpur Sadar (West Midnapore)

Sources said the voting percentage in Kaliaganj was about 81 and 84 in Karimpur around 6pm. In Kharagpur, the polling percentage was 67 till 5pm.

The Telegraph enumerates some of the major incidents during the polling.

Majumdar kicked

Majumdar came under the attack by suspected Trinamul supporters when he walked out of a booth at Islampur Primary School in Ghaighata, Karimpur. The mob punched the BJP candidate and pushed him off the road.

Majumdar, who was taken aback by the sudden attack and stumbled, was kicked on his back and he landed in a bush. He somehow gathered himself and came out of the bush. Soon, some paramilitary jawans arrived and dispersed the attackers.

The BJP organised demonstrations in different areas of the Nadia district to protest the attack on Majumdar. The party also filed complaints with the chief election commissioner, Sunil Arora, and Bengal chief electoral officer Ariz Aftab.

“The incident has once again proved that there is no democracy in Bengal. We have demanded immediate removal of Nadia’s DM and SP who had completely failed to maintain law and order in the area,” BJP leader Mukul Roy said at the state BJP headquarters in Calcutta.

Rajib Banerjee, state minister and Trinamul’s observer in the district, said it was part of the BJP’s plan to disrupt the poll process. The police have detained one of the attackers, said sources.

The ‘guiding’ husband

Kamal Krishna Sarkar, the BJP candidate in Kaliaganj, walked up to a booth at Balas Primary School under Dalimgaon panchayat with his wife Bharati to cast their votes.

After casting his vote, Kamal stood until his wife pressed the EVM button. The candidate was also seen glancing at the EVM and “guiding” his wife.

Trinamul filed a complaint with the Election Commission which has soon removed the presiding officer of the booth. Later, show-cause notices were served on the official as well as the candidate. “We want the Election Commission to take steps against him,” said Kartik Chandra Pal, a Trinamul leader of Kaliaganj.

The BJP candidate said: “For several years now, we two vote in this manner. I have only guided her; she has cast the vote on her own.”

Asked about the complaint, BJP leader Mukul Roy said: “The Election Commission had showcaused us and we gave our reply. We consider it as a silly mistake on the part of the candidate, who was trying to assist his ailing wife.”

Dilip the ‘outsider’

Trinamul has accused BJP state president Dilip Ghosh of trying to influence the voting in Kharagpur Sadar using his position as the local MP.

Amit Maity, the West Midnapore district Trinamul chief, said: “Throughout the day, he tried to control the poll, mobilised BJP cadres and tried to influence voters. He is an outsider (in the constituency) but even then, entered the town and influenced the polling. We have lodged a written complaint against him with the commission.” Ghosh, however, sought to refute the charges. “I took permission from the returning officer to enter the town. I kept myself confined to my house.”

Sources in the SDO’s office said Ghosh had made an application for permission to stay in Kharagpur but no nod was granted.

Finger at official

Kallol Singha, a polling officer posted at booth 47 in Uttar Chirailpara in the Kaliaganj seat, was accused of influencing voters. “He was asking the voters to vote for the BJP,” said a local Trinamul leader.

Singha was soon detained by police who whisked him away.