80% vote in West Bengal bypolls amid rigging, intimidation charges

AJUP chief Humayun Kabir was detained for allegedly provoking tension

KOLKATA/CHENNAI/GUWAHATI: Bypolls across three states and one Union territory saw high but uneven turnouts Tuesday, with Bengal's Nandigram and Rejinagar recording 80% turnout amid allegations of rigging, voter intimidation and police interference, while polling in one Puducherry and two Tamil Nadu assembly seats and Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency remained largely peaceful. Nandigram recorded above 80% turnout by 7pm, but voters reported being turned away from booths. CM Suvendu Adhikari, who had vacated the seat after winning both Nandigram and Bhowanipore in May, said: "In 2016, I won by 82,000 votes, my highest margin ever. I believe that record will be broken this time." Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, out on bail following his arrest in a 2007 case after he filed his nomination, said the election had been "looted" and complained of blocked agents, voters being denied entry, assault and vandalism. CPI and ISF candidate Sabe Mirza Khan also alleged rigging. Rejinagar recorded 80% turnout, with allegations of police interference dominating polling. AJUP chief Humayun Kabir, who gave up Rejinagar and kept Nowda after winning both in May, was detained after police accused him of provoking tension. Videos showed police grabbing Kabir by his shirt and taking him away. He was released after 12 hours. His son Golam Nabi Azad is the AJUP candidate. Congress and TMC alleged widespread rigging and removal of polling agents. BJP's Shankharavh Sarkar clashed with central forces after being asked to move away from voters. Tamil Nadu saw a turnout dip from April's elections. Madurantakam recorded 86%, down from 93%, while Dharapuram saw 80%, against 89% in April. Both saw three-way contests involving TVK, DMK and AIADMK.

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Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha bypolls recorded 76% turnout. BJP's Devasish Sharma, Congress's Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal are the main contenders among 15 candidates. Puducherry's Thattanchavady recorded 78% turnout by 5pm, with final figures expected to rise. The contest is seen as a test for the four-month-old NDA govt led by CM N Rangasamy, whose resignation from the seat necessitated the bypolls. Counting is scheduled for October 9.

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