According to news agency ANI, Pranat Tudu, a senior BJP leader and candidate from the Jhargram Lok Sabha seat, was reportedly attacked by miscreants while visiting booth number 200 in Monglapota on Saturday. Earlier, Tudu claimed that his convoy was attacked in the Garbeta area of West Midnapore district, resulting in injuries to security personnel accompanying him.
#WATCH | West Bengal | BJP candidate from Jhargram Lok Sabha seat, Pranat Tudu was attacked allegedly by miscreants when he was visiting booth number 200 in Monglapota in the parliamentary constituency today pic.twitter.com/bfEYH7KgXT
— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024
Tudu stated that the incident occurred as he was heading to Garbeta following complaints that BJP agents were being prevented from entering certain polling booths. “All of a sudden, TMC goons who had blocked the roads started hurling bricks at my car. When my security personnel tried to intervene, they were injured. Two CISF jawans accompanying me received head injuries and had to be hospitalised,” Tudu remarked.
However, local TMC leadership refuted these allegations, accusing Tudu of disrupting the peaceful polling process. “The BJP nominee was threatening voters. The villagers got enraged and staged a protest,” a local TMC leader stated. Additionally, vehicles belonging to various media houses were reportedly vandalised by the mob.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 70.19% in eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal until 3 pm during the sixth phase of polling. Bishnupur (SC) recorded the highest polling at 73.55%, followed by Jhargram (ST) (72.26%), Tamluk (71.63%), Kanthi (71.36%), Ghatal (71.34%), Medinipur (67.91%), Bankura (67.41%), and Purulia (66.06%).
Among the 79 candidates contesting, Bankura and Jhargram have the highest number of 13 contestants each, followed by Purulia (12), and nine each in Medinipur and Tamluk. Bishnupur and Ghatal seats each have seven candidates contesting.