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Adhikari Predicts BJP Nandigram Sweep, Detention Sparks Dispute
People voted in by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar on Tuesday.
Suvendu Adhikari voted in Nandigram and said the BJP could win there by a very large margin.
He pointed to his 2016 win, when he won by 81,230 votes.
He also expected many people to vote.
Turnout reached 79.39 per cent in Nandigram by 5pm, while Rejinagar’s was about 78.42 per cent.
In Rejinagar, police detained Humayun Kabir and released him after voting ended.
Kabir said police were stopping voters and allowing bogus voting.
The police superintendent said Kabir was detained because he was visiting polling booths and intimidating voters.
Suvendu Adhikari voted in Nandigram and predicted the BJP’s winning margin could exceed his 2016 record of 81,230 votes.
Adhikari said turnout was above 50 per cent around noon and forecast that it could reach 85 per cent or more.
By 5pm, turnout was 79.39 per cent in Nandigram and about 78.42 per cent in Rejinagar.
Police detained AJUP president Humayun Kabir on polling day and released him around 8pm after voting ended.
Kabir alleged police intimidation and bogus voting; the Murshidabad police superintendent said Kabir was detained for visiting booths and intimidating voters.
- Who
- Suvendu Adhikari, Humayun Kabir, police, and voters in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- What
- By-elections took place, Adhikari predicted a BJP victory in Nandigram, and police detained Kabir in Rejinagar.
- Where
- Nandigram in East Midnapore and Rejinagar in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
- When
- Tuesday; Kabir was released around 8pm after polling ended.
- Why
- Adhikari forecast a strong BJP result; police said Kabir was detained for visiting booths and intimidating voters, while Kabir alleged police were obstructing voters and permitting bogus voting.
Humayun Kabir's allegations
Police account
Reason for Kabir's detention
Humayun Kabir's allegations
Kabir said he was detained after protesting what he described as police partisanship and alleged bogus voting.
Police account
Murshidabad Superintendent of Police Sachin Makkar said Kabir was held because he was going to various booths and intimidating voters.
Treatment of voters and polling
Humayun Kabir's allegations
Kabir alleged police were intimidating voters, especially in Muslim-majority areas, and preventing them from reaching polling booths; he also alleged RSS workers were allowed to cast bogus votes.
Police account
The police account reported in the article was that Kabir was intimidating voters; it did not address each of his allegations separately.
Key facts
- Nandigram turnout by 5pm
- 79.39 per cent
- Rejinagar turnout by 5pm
- Around 78.42 per cent
- Adhikari's 2016 Nandigram margin
- 81,230 votes
- Adhikari's turnout forecast
- He expected 85 per cent turnout and said 90 per cent would be better.
- Kabir's detention
- He was detained on Tuesday morning and released around 8pm.
- Rejinagar by-election candidate mentioned
- Golam Nabi Azad, Humayun Kabir's son, was fielded by the AJUP.
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
BJP politician who voted in Nandigram and predicted the party’s winning margin.
“Since the election was announced, the police have been arresting and harassing workers of my party. And today, on polling day, the police were standing by and preventing Muslim voters from reaching the booths. RSS workers are being allowed to enter the booths and cast bogus votes in front of the police. I protested because I will not allow this to happen as long as I am alive. That is why I have been detained.”
telegraphindia.com
“Since the election is still underway, I will not say anything about the outcome. I can only say that in 2016, I won from here with the highest margin — 82,000 votes. I believe that record will be broken this time.”
telegraphindia.com
Sachin Makkar
Murshidabad superintendent of police who explained why Kabir was held.
“going to various booths and intimidating voters”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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