Suvendu says Nandigram bypoll peaceful, hopes for record turnout

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday said the ongoing polling in the by-election to Nandigram assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district has been peaceful so far and expressed hope for a record turnout.

Adhikari, who got down from his car some distance from his polling station in Nandigram and took an e-rickshaw to reach the facility, interacted with electors before casting his vote.

BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, the mother of Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath who was gunned down after the assembly polls earlier this year, was present when the CM reached the polling station.

"Polling has been peaceful in Nandigram. Around 50 per cent voting has been registered so far. We know that by-elections usually see average turnouts... I believe there will be around 85 per cent turnout here," Adhikari told reporters after exercising his franchise.

The chief minister said he would not comment on the outcome of the polls due to the implementation of the model code of conduct (MCC).

"I will also not comment on the security arrangements as it is under the purview of the Election Commission. But I will say that we need to follow the law," he said.

"Nowda MLA (Humayun Kabir) has been arrested in Rejinagar. Law is equal for everyone, and nobody should try to violate it," Adhikari added.

The CM said he has known the people of Nandigram for several years and expressed hope that his previous electoral margin in the seat would be surpassed this time.

"I have known everyone in Nandigram for several years. I won the 2016 assembly elections by a margin of over 80,000 votes. I am hopeful that the record will be broken in this bypoll," he said.

In 2016, Adhikari won the Nandigram assembly constituency by a massive margin of over 80,000 votes on a Trinamool Congress ticket.

"I will continue as the Bhabanipur MLA but promise the people of Nandigram to remain a voter here till my death," he added.

The voter turnout in the by-elections to Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats was at 41.33 per cent till 11 am on Tuesday, a poll official said.

Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

The Nandigram assembly seat recorded a polling percentage of 43.95 till 11 am, while Rejinagar in Murshidabad registered 38.71 per cent voter turnout during the same period.