Bypolls held in 6 south Bengal municipalities

KOLKATA/PURULIA/CHANDERNAGORE: Bypolls to six municipalities of south Bengal went off peacefully, barring some opposition complaints of false voting and presence of outsiders near polling stations. The SEC launched a probe.
Till 6pm, 74.4% turnout was recorded in Bhatpara’s ward 3, 72.9% in Dumdum’s ward 4, 58.2% in Panihati’s ward 8, 66.7% in ward 29 of South Dumdum and 73.1% in Chandernagore’s ward 16.In Jhalda ward 2, 80.8% votes were polled.
Bhatpara had its first polls after Arjun Singh returned to TMC. At Babupara, reporters were allegedly stopped on booth premises. Cops were deployed at Central Hindu Girls High Sc-hool after BJP’s Kaushik Das alleged false voting. CPM supporters blocked the road in protest.
Bhatpara town’s TMC chief Debajyoti Ghosh said: “There was an incident involving sector in-charge and mediapersons. But it is not to do with politics.” Naihati TMC MLA Partha Bhaumik said: “Mediapersons should not be stopped from polling premises.” At Pandit Matilal Institution for Girls in Dumdum, a woman gave a tendered vote after a vote was found to have been cast in her name.