84.5 per cent votes polled in Sabang by-poll

An estimated 84.5 per cent votes were cast in today's by-election to West Bengal's Sabang assembly constituency, where ruling TMC is locked in a high voltage fight with BJP and the CPI-M.
According to the Election Commission sources about 84.5 per cent votes were recorded at the end of polls which passed off peacefully.
Polling in the constituency was held amid tight security with eight companies of central forces deployed, the sources said.
With opposition CPI(M) and BJP accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of driving away their election agents from the polling booths, the EC said it is looking into the complaints.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh criticised TMC for resorting to terror during the polls and said "The election results will not reflect the real mandate of the people. The people of Sabang could not vote freely and fairly due to the terror tactics of TMC."
He was echoed by the Congress and the CPI(M).

"The TMC has been doing this in each and every election. They know that they will lose Sabang and that is why they resorted to violence," Leader of opposition and state Congress leader Abdul Mannan said.
The TMC, however, denied the allegations and said the people have voted in favour of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's developmental politics.

"The allegation made by the opposition parties is completely baseless. Voting is peaceful in the constituency," TMC Rajya Sabha MP Manas Bhunia, who is a former Congress MLA said.
TMC has fielded his wife Gita Rani Bhunia in the seat.
Manas Bhunia, had won the seat in last year's assembly poll on a Congress ticket but had defected to the Mamata Banerjee-led party earlier this year necessitating the byelection.
Antara Bhattacharya is the BJP candidate, while the Congress fielded Chiranjib Bhowmick, a local leader. Rita Mandal of the CPI(M) contested as a Left Front candidate.
Counting of votes for the by-election will be held on December 24.