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| Bimal Gurung casting vote in election booth |
The first phase of the Lok Sabha
election in Bengal, in the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency, passed
off peacefully without any major incident and with a high 80.13 per
cent of votes recorded at the end of the around 6pm.
Taking both his supporters and that of
its ally, the Trinamool Congress by surprise, Gorkha National Liberation
Front chief Subash Ghisingh did not cast his vote at booth no. 171 at
Gandhi Road in Darjeeling. TMC (Hills) spokesperson Binny Sharma refused
to comment but said, “It is his (Ghisingh’s) constitutional right and
we have nothing to say to his decision.”
However, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general
secretary Roshan Giri proffered that the GNLF leader was perhaps aware
Bhaichung Bhutia would eventually lose and thus refrained from casting
his vote.
“Ghisingh already knew that Bhaichung would not fare well in the election and this is why he did not vote,” claimed Giri.
Long queues marked the day-long voting
process in the hills and the huge turn-out was greeted with positive
responses from the camps of all contesting candidates.
“People have voted with enthusiasm and
have given us support. We are confident of victory,” said Giri. The TMC
spokesperson also thanked the people for turning out to vote in huge
numbers.
“After several years, people have tasted true democracy. I salute their courage to come out and vote,” he said.
Independent candidate Mahendra P Lama,
who could manage to get a kitty full of votes that could dent both the
GJM-BJP and GNLF-TMC combine prospects, also sounded confident of
victory and said, “It was a participatory, vibrant and enjoyable
election. And this is after a long time.”
CPM district secretariat member KB
Wattar, though acknowledging the party’s weakness in the hills,
expressed confidence of wresting a major chunk of votes that would be
critical when it comes to the accumulative total of plains votes.
“We hope to get anything between
35,000-40,000 votes from the hills. This votes however, will be a factor
when added to the votes from the plains where we are confident of
getting huge numbers,” he said.
GJM chief Bimal Gurung cast his vote
around nine in the morning at a polling booth in Patleybas and appeared
satisfied. After voting, he started-off on a tour of surrounding areas.
BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia, supported by the GJM remained in the plains
where the party’s organisation is weak and apparently to boost the
morale of his polling agents and supporters.
TMC’s Bhaichung toured booths in the
hills while independent candidate Lama also went to various polling
booths throughout the day.
The day went off without major incidents
although the GJM and TMC made counter allegations. The TMC has filed 24
complaints and demanded re-polling in booth 175 in Darjeeling where it
alleged the polling officer openly supported the GJM.
“GJM leaders and supporters intimidated
voters. Our polling agent Rubina Lama in booth 102 in Kurseong was
assaulted by Kurseong Municipality chairman and GJM leader Samardeep
Blone, against whom we have lodged a complaint,” said the TMC
spokesperson.
The GJM general secretary, however,
refuted the allegation saying, “It is baseless and fabricated to hide
their failure. The TMC knows the eventual outcome of the election and
wants to save its face”.
DK Pradhan, the BJP candidate’s election
agent and a GJM central committee member alleged the district police of
being biased. “It seemed the police were working in favour of the TMC
and even intimidating voters. We will lodge a complaint with the EC
observer,” he said.
Meanwhile, police detained Asha Gurung,
wife of the GJM president, at the Darjeeling sadar police station
allegedly for intimidating voters.
The election also saw a substantial
number of first time voters in the hills which could work in favor of
the contesting candidates. “I am feeling proud to be part of such a huge
democratic exercise of the country. I am also happy that my vote will
help elect a good person,” said 18-year old Subham Lepcha while casting
his vote for the first time ever. Similarly, Aditi Kharel, presently
pursuing a degree in MSW, said, “It is my first voting experience. I am
presently in Bangalore, but I came up to Darjeeling to cast my vote for
the right cause and person.”
The district administration and police
said there were no report of violence and disruption from anywhere in
the hills and polling was peaceful throughout the day.(EOIC)