Kamal Ghorui
Panihati: For the RG Kar rape-and-murder victim’s mother, her first poll day as a candidate was marked by tension, confrontations and complaints from multiple quarters.Controversies trailed the poll debutante all day, from allegations for trying to influence people standing in line at multiple booths to cast their votes, stepping into scuffles between BJP and Trinamool workers to lodging complaints herself against TMC.The morning began on a personal note. She and her husband cast their votes at Natagarh Sangha around 7.20 am, close to their home. Before voting, she said, “This morning, I entered my daughter’s room to offer my prayers to her, after which I offered prayers to Sarada Devi. I am fighting this battle to get justice for her and for all the women in Bengal so that they can live peacefully. I remembered that in the last election, the three of us came together to cast our votes, but this time only my husband and I came. This gap will never be filled.”Soon after, she began visiting booths across her constituency, urging voters to step out and vote. At a booth in ward 32, central forces removed a councillor from the vicinity. At another booth, voting was briefly halted due to an EVM malfunction. Allegations also surfaced at Agarpara Pathagar, where BJP claimed the button bearing her name and photo had been defaced with ink, prompting a complaint to EC.Tensions escalated at Azad Hind Nagar, where she objected to a gathering near a booth. A heated argument between BJP and TMC workers turned into a scuffle. Police asked her to leave as rival slogans filled the air. She later said, “They blocked us and chanted slogans at me while the police asked me to leave. Why? How long will this continue?”Local councillor Himangsu Deb countered, “The entire area is peaceful. BJP is trying to create trouble along with the candidate and has instigated our supporters.” Despite disruptions, she continued visiting booths, interacting with voters, while her opponents, TMC’s Tirthankar Ghosh and Left candidate Kalyan Dasgupta, spent the day differently. She said, “I know the battleground, and I’m sure they will choose the truth.“
