‘Factually incorrect’: EC on Mamata’s claims about ‘outsiders’ at Nandigram polling booth

Replying to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's complaint regarding disruption of voting in Nandigram during the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections, Election Commission said the allegations are factually incorrect and devoid of substance.

The commission also ruled out reports of violence or intimidation of voters during the day of the poll.

In a letter to Banerjee, the poll panel said the Trinamool Congress leader’s claims were factually incorrect, “without any empirical evidence whatsoever and devoid of substance”.

EC, in its response to the Nandigram candidate, gave a complete timeline of the smooth progress of polling at Boyal despite complaints received from the TMC polling agent and later the CM, as well as steps taken on the spot by poll authorities to verify and address these.

Based on the note as well as reports from the media and its own officials, the poll panel had sought a report from its special observers in West Bengal, Ajay Nayak and Vivek Dube, which was received at 5.30pm on Friday.

The commission said it is a matter of deep regret that a "media narrative was sought to be weaved hour after hour to misguide the biggest stakeholders, which is the voters, by a candidate who also happens to be CM of the state".

At least this should have been appreciated that the "side show" was fraught with immense potential to have an adverse impact on law and order across West Bengal and may be in some other states, it said.

"And all this was being done when the election process was/is on. There could not have been a greater misdemeanour," the letter stated.

According to Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab, wheelchair-bound Banerjee was stuck in the booth for almost two hours as two groups raised slogans against each other. A large number of CAPF personnel and senior officers reached there and brought out the chief minister after bringing the situation under control.

Later, Banerjee blamed outsiders for creating trouble. She also accused the EC of not acting on complaints of alleged irregularities in the polling process in Nandigram lodged by her party, Trinamool Congress.