Controversy in Gaighata: Elderly Voters Allegedly Denied Entry for Wearing Lungis

A controversy erupted during polling in the Gaighata Assembly constituency in North 24-Parganas after central forces personnel prevented several elderly men from entering a booth allegedly for wearing lungi, prompting charges of harassment and raising questions on the security forces' role. This took place at Kuchulia Primary School in Kuchulia village near Gobardanga.

Villagers claimed a number of elderly men, who arrived to vote in their traditional clothes, were turned away by central forces personnel, who insisted they change into trousers before being allowed to enter the polling station. Among those turned away was 78-year-old Dishar Ali Mondal. "I have been wearing a lungi for 30 years, I have voted like this before. But on Wednesday, while I was in the queue, CAPF personnel told me I could not enter the booth in a lungi and asked me to return after changing into trousers," he said. With no trousers of his own, Mondal had to borrow a pair from his grandson before returning to the booth to vote. "I have never faced such a harassment," he added. Another voter, Ganesh Majumdar (80), reportedly faced similar harassment. "I went to vote wearing a lungi, but while standing in the queue, I was questioned and told I could not vote in it. I had to return home, arrange for a pair of trousers, and then go to vote," he said. Residents pointed out that Kuchulia was a predominantly rural locality, where elderly men commonly wore lungi, and that voters had never faced such a dress code. The incident triggered protests, with Trinamool members questioning the conduct of the central forces. Following the unrest, the personnel reportedly withdrew the restriction, and no more objection was raised against voters in lungi. The presiding officer and CAPF personnel declined to speak.