TMC procured 'artificial fingers' to facilitate false voting in Bhabanipur: Suvendu Adhikari

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday alleged that a Trinamool Congress councillor had procured hundreds of artificial fingers to facilitate bogus voting in the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, a charge dismissed by the ruling party.

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday alleged that a Trinamool Congress councillor had procured ''hundreds of artificial fingers'' to facilitate bogus voting in the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, a charge dismissed by the ruling party. Addressing reporters a day ahead of polling in the second phase of the assembly election, Adhikari, claimed that the councilor had purchased over 700 ''artificial fingers'' to enable fraudulent voting. Adhikari, a senior BJP leader, is pitted against Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency. ''More than 700 such artificial fingers have been arranged. This is an attempt to manipulate the election. We will not allow such practices,'' he asserted. Adhikari also claimed that as many as 3,810 booth slips distributed by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Bhabanipur were returned undelivered. ''The list of such voters has been marked. The people of Bhabanipur are ready for change and will respond through their votes,'' he said. Adhikari also said he had submitted a ''sample'' of his claim to the Election Commission. Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty termed the allegations ''completely unfounded''. ''Is something like that possible in any democracy? Such things are neither possible nor practised. These are baseless allegations, and there is nothing to respond to,'' Chakraborty said. The first phase of elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.