Trinamool's reign of terror in Howrah: Left Front

Urging the Election Commission to ensure a free and fair poll in the Howrah Lok Sabha by-election in West Bengal, the Left Front Tuesday accused the Trinamool Congress of unleashing violence in the constituency.

"Goons patronised by the Trinamool Congress have imposed a reign of terror. With each passing day, our workers, supporters and party offices are being attacked, voters are being terrorised. The Election Commission should interfere and ensure that polls are held freely and fairly," Left Front chairman Biman Bose said in a statement.

Bose also accused a part of the police administration of being "hand in glove with the miscreants who have been indulging in violence ever since the poll campaigns began".

With the Trinamool and the Congress snapping ties at the central and state levels, both parties have put up candidates for the seat. While the Trinamool has nominated former international footballer Prasun Banerjee, the Congress has given the ticket to advocate Sanatan Mukherjee. The Left Front has fielded CPI-M's Srideep Bhattacharya.

Congress leaders had May 22 met Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath to lodge a complaint against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

The election to the Lok Sabha from the constituency was necessitated by the death of Trinamool parliamentarian Ambica Banerjee April 25.

Despite announcing its candidate for the June 2 poll, the Bharatiya Janata Party later withdrew from the election.