Several prominent political leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, BJP’s Dilip Ghosh, Congress’s Mausam Benazir Noor and TMC’s Udayan Guha, cast their votes and called for peaceful voting in the first phase of the two-phase West Bengal assembly elections on Thursday.
In Purba Medinipur district, Mr Adhikari cast his vote at Nandanaykbar Primary School near his Shanti Kunja residence in Kanthi shortly before 8 am.
Addressing reporters after the vote, Mr. Adhikari, who is contesting from the nearby Nandigram constituency, urged people to ensure a peaceful poll.
“I am praying for a peaceful poll. They (TMC) could not and will not be able to create a big riot. The night before the elections is usually crucial. Prima facie, the Election Commission and the central forces deserve credit,” he said.
“After Surya Pranam, I came and cast my vote. This vote is doubly significant because women, Sanat Hindus and other ‘rashtrabadi’ (nationalist) communities are united to give a befitting reply to the atrocities of Mamata Banerjee and her party workers,” he added.
He also claimed that the result would be “overwhelming” in favor of the BJP as the “names of dead and fake voters” were deleted from the electoral rolls.
Apart from seeking re-election from Nandigram, Mr Adhikari is also contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, which will go to polls in the second phase on April 29. — PTI
