Dharmanagar, Apr 09: The by-election to the 56-Dharmanagar Assembly constituency witnessed contrasting claims on Thursday, as the Congress alleged rigging and voter intimidation, while the administration maintained that polling was peaceful.
At a press conference held in the evening, Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharya accused the ruling party of proxy voting and obstructing voters. He also alleged that threats and inducements were distributed ahead of polling. Other party leaders echoed similar concerns, claiming opposition agents were forced out of booths and questioning the role of the administration.
The Congress further alleged misbehaviour with journalists, terming it an attack on press freedom, and said it would submit a formal complaint to the Election Commission seeking a fair probe.
Meanwhile, Returning Officer Debjani Chowdhury stated that polling remained smooth and incident-free across 55 booths, with central forces and BSF deployed to ensure security. The voter turnout stood at 80.04% till 5 PM, with long queues seen throughout the day.
No official response has yet been issued by the ruling party or the Election Commission regarding the allegations.
