Bengal panchayat polls: Counting underway, Suvendu Adhikari flays TMC for obstruction

Counting of ballots for the three-tier Panchayat elections held on July 8 began at 8 AM on Tuesday in 338 centres across the state.

Taking to Twitter, Adhikari stated, "Diamond Harbour Model" is in full swing on the Counting Day also. TMC goons are making the last desperate attempt to steal the Elections by obstructing the Counting Agents & Candidates of @BJP4Bengal and other opposition political parties from entering the Counting Hall."

Diamond Harbour is the Lok Sabha constituency of Trinamool Congress national general secretary and party chief Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

"They (opposition counting agents and candidates) are being restricted from going towards the venue from 1-2 kms afar. Bombs are being hurled to intimidate the Counting Agents. They are being mercilessly beaten up, even kidnapped," the BJP MLA from Nandigram said.

He also alleged that the counting agents and candidates couldn't enter Fakir Chand College in Diamond Harbour, Keshpur College, counting centres at Galsi, Katwa, Amta, Bagnan, Barabani, Kirnahar and several other places.

Demanding the State Election Commission (SEC) halt the counting process and ensure all opposition counting agents and candidates were able to reach the counting centres unobstructed, Adhikari averred that only when they reach the venue, the counting process should begin.