“ We have told the administration regarding this,” he added. The Trinamool, however, alleged that the CPM attempted to terrorise villagers. “CPM cadres have attacked and injured four of our supporters at Reyapara and assaulted many others at different places,” Trinamool leader and MLA from Contai (South) Suvendu Adhikari said.

“They, however, could not muffle the voice of the people and now at the face of defeat they are making absurd allegations,” he added.

Trinamool candidate Firoza Bibi said: “The Opposition tried to create disturbance but they could not do it due to the presence of the police. We will surely win the elections.”

Around 80% voter turnout in Sujapur by-poll
Kolkata: Polling for the Sujapur Assembly by-elections ended peacefully on Monday. “The voting was peaceful,” said IG ( law and order ) Raj Kanojia. District police chief Satyajit Banerjee said initial reports suggest that about 80 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise.

The counting of votes will be held on January 9. The assembly seat fell vacant after the death of Congress MLA Rubi Noor, the sister of veteran Congress leader A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury. The Congress fielded 27-year-old Mousam Benajir Noor, daughter of Rubi Noor.

Benajir had recently obtained a law degree from the Calcutta University. The Trinamool Congress decided not to field any candidate as a tribute to the late Congress leader.

Benajir’s contender is CPM’s Haji Ketabuddin who had garnered 65 per cent votes from Sujapur in the May 2008 panchayat polls.

... contd.