Battleground Bengal: EVM malfunction, secret tapes mark first phase of Assembly Elections

Image Courtesy:thehansindia.com

Within hours of commencement of polling for the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal, came allegations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) malfunctioning in some areas. First reports emerged from Kharagpur where EVMs at booth number 98 and 99 were reported to have malfunctioned as per a Times of India report.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) also alleged EVM malfunction in Kanthi Dakshin constituency, where when people voted for the TMC, the VVPAT allegedly showed them Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) symbol. Allegations were also made about TMC votes being “transferred” to the BJP.

The BJP alleged that TMC workers attacked the car of Suvendu Adhikari’s brother in Contai town in East Midnapur, his driver was injured in the attack. Protests and even skirmishes broke out according to some media reports, though these were swiftly brought under control.

But what continued unabated throughout the day were a series of allegations and counter-allegations of interference in elections. First the BJP accused West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of calling Pralay Pal, a BJP leader in Nandigram, asking for help in the constituency.

“Mamata Didi called BJP district Vice-president and pleaded for help in Nandigram,” tweeted the Bengal BJP from its official handle and released a tape of the secret conversation to the media. In the audio tape, the veracity of which cannot be verified, a woman (who the BJP claim is Mamata Banerjee) can be heard telling a man, “You are young and hardworking. I’m familiar with your work. If you do us a favour, you will never have to worry about anything else again.” Pal, first responds by saying that it was Banerjee who inspired him to join politics but now, “I am loyal to my party and will not betray them.”

Interestingly, the background noise of the call is inconsistent with music playing intermittently and disappearing suddenly, suggesting that the tape may have been doctored.

But, not to be left behind, the TMC released a “secret tape” of Banerjee’s bête noire and TMC turncoat Mukul Roy who has of late emerged as the BJP’s blue-eyed boy. In the tape, a man (who the TMC claims in Roy) can be heard instructing a second man (who the TMC claims is Shishir Bajoria) on ways to influence the Election Commission. Roy allegedly asks Bajoria to get the EC to change rules so that any one, and not necessarily a voter, can be a booth agent.

In West Bengal, 91 candidates are vying for 30 seats, their fate in the hands of over 73 lakh voters. Polling took place amidst high security with 684 companies of central forces deployed in the state. Last reported voter turnout in the state stood at 79.79 percent.