Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) The vehicle of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legislator-cum-candidate from Asansol (Dakshin) Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district, Agnimitra Paul, was vandalised amid the first phase of voting, allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters. Annoyed with the incident, Paul remarked that the Trinamool “indulges in violence in every election”.

Describing the incident, Paul said, “We had gone to Rahmat Nagar which is a minority area. There we had gone to Rahmat Nagar high school for supervision. When we came out and got inside the car, they threw stones and broke the glass of the car from behind.”

Speaking to IANS after casting her vote, she alleged that activists of the Trinamool Congress indulge in acts of violence in every election.

Accusing the party for the vandalism, she said, “In every election Trinamool does this. In 2022 bye-election also they pelted stones and broke the car.”

“Trinamool thinks that Muslims are their property. BJP has also right on the Muslims as they are my brothers. Such things won’t work, I am going there again,” the BJP candidate said.

Agnimitra Paul mentioned that she has not lodged a written complaint yet but has informed the local police station.

She further alleged, “The Trinamool Congress is party full of criminals and goons.”

Paul also claimed that the Trinamool has brought people from other states just before the polls.

“Yesterday many people came from outside, I have information. Many goons have come here, a big goon from Kharagpur named Nadim has come here, I am naming him. The Election Commission has to see all this. We want free an fair elections,” she asserted.

Unrest was also reported in Murshidabad’s Nawada Assembly constituency involving Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir. A confrontation broke out between Kabir and local Trinamool Congress leaders near a polling booth, with both sides accusing each other of creating disturbances.

Despite a strong voter turnout in several areas during the first phase of the West Bengal elections, incidents like these have raised concerns over law and order during the electoral process.

–IANS

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