The bypoll for the Uluberia Lok Sabha on Monday was by and large peaceful barring stray incidents.

While the ruling Trinamul Congress claimed it was peaceful polling and upbeat about another stellar performance with handsome win, the Opposition Left and the BJP cried foul of electoral malpractice by the ruling party but stopped short of calling it a no show for them.

Earlier, tension ran high at Gangarampur village under Uluberia East Assembly Constituency, where some alleged Trinamul activists attacked people owning allegiance to BJP and its camp office.
Central forces along with cops deployed to maintain security swung into action and brought the situation under control.

“ The ruling party has used its old trick to browbeat voters by attacking our supporters. If they are so sure to win the election hands down why are they resorting to muscle flexing to intimidate voters,”, alleged Anupam Mallick, BJP candidate and party Howrah (rural) president.

CPI-M candidate Sabiruddin Molla also cried foul. He said, “The Trinamul Congress has resorted to electoral malpractice by rigging , booth jamming and acove all by throwing out our poll agents at numerous booths in Amta, East Uluberia, South Uluberia and vast pockets of Undaynarayanpur Assembly constituencies. Yet they failed to prevent people from exercising their franchise.”

“ The two parties are in tacit understanding and trying to play religious polarisation by playing the minority and majority cards respectively. The people will give them a fitting reply,” quipped the CPI-M candidate.
Pulak Roy, MLA Uluberia South and the president of the Howrah( rural) and the key person of the party’s election machinery rubbished the charges of malpractice.“ People have voted spontaneously.

Polls were peaceful. No major incidents happened. People are with Mamata Banerjee and they will give her another gift with a handsome win.”On the Opposition’s charges of turning away their polling agents from the booths, Mr Roy said, “ It is their discretion to field agents. Why they could not give agents to 50percent of 1818 booths. It is their failure not to field agents.”

Monday’s poll was necessitated following death of two-time MP Sultan Ahmed. Trinamul Congress fielded Sajad Ahmed widow of former MP , while the Left and the BJP had fielded Sabiruddin Molla and Anupam Mallick respectively. Modassor Warsi was the candidate of the Congress.