1. Clashes in Bengal, FIR against Babul Supriyo
West Bengal saw clashes in several parts of the state, particularly Birbhum, Bardhaman and Asansol.
Asansol BJP candidate Babul Supriyo’s car was vandalised after clashes between BJP and TMC party workers outside a polling booth. Supriyo blamed the TMC.
However, the EC asked the state police to file an FIR against Supriyo for allegedly entering the voting booth and threatening polling officials. This reportedly took place before his car was vandalised.
2. Moon Moon Sen’s tea
TMC’s Asansol candidate Moon Moon Sen hadn’t quite caught up to the happenings in the constituency when an NDTV reporter approached her for comment.
Why?
“They gave me my bed tea very late so I woke up very late. Aar ki bolbo, bolo (What else can I say)? I really don’t know,” the actor-turned-politician said.
The tea, however late, didn’t seem to have helped.
She later told ANI,“I have not met my seniors yet and when we will sit together I will know where and why violence took place. Thoda toh hoga hi har jagah hota hai (There is bound to be some violence everywhere). Violence is much less now compared to before.”
3. A TMC leader was under surveillance ALL day
After poll workers said they would feel “threatened” if TMC leader Anubrata Mondal kept moving from one booth to another on polling day, EC officials and CRPF personnel kept him under close watch, resorting to even recording his movements on camera.
Mondal is not new to this. He’d been put under 24-hour surveillance during the 2016 state elections too.
4. ‘Pro-BJP’ dog detained
A man and his dog were detained in north Maharashtra’s Nandurbar town. PTI reported that the dog’s body was found covered with stickers bearing the BJP’s symbol and the message “Modi lao, desh bachao” (Vote for Modi and save the country), a police official said.
5. Lights off for Kamal Nath
Media persons reportedly had to turn on their flashlight for Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath to vote after power tripped at his polling booth in Chhindwara district, according to PTI.
6. The continuing saga of the ‘indelible’ ink
Several people complained the ink, meant to stay on your finger for weeks as proof of voting, was washing off within hours. AGAIN!
Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha also posted a video of his finger and said the EC owed people an explanation.
I’ll just add that to the ever-growing list of answers we’re waiting for from the EC.
7. Press ‘cycle’, get ‘lotus’
BJP-loving EVMs strike again! Samajwadi Party complained to the EC saying VVPAT machines at two polling booths in Kannauj were recording votes for the BJP when the ballot was cast for the SP.
But it wasn’t just EVMs. SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury alleged the police in the constituency were working at the the behest of the ruling party. At some polling booths, BJP agents allegedly “snatched” voter slips from people and cast votes themselves with “the help of police”. Meanwhile, he said SP supporters had been sent “red cards” warning them to stay at home after voting.
All this, and it was just Monday. Have fun surviving the rest of the nice week!