Kolkata, May 1: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, issued a statement on Friday rejecting the claims made by Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee. Banerjee had alleged that an elderly voter died due to alleged pushing by central forces at a polling booth in Uday Narayanpur, Howrah district, during the second phase of the assembly elections on April 29.
In his statement, the CEO described these allegations as an attempt to spread fear. According to the CEO, the voter, 82-year-old Purnachandra Dolui, had gone to cast his vote at booth number 245 with his son.
The CEO stated, “Despite his physical weakness, this elderly citizen exercised his democratic right. His son was allowed to assist him inside the booth. After voting, Dolui collapsed near the voting room due to age-related health issues (heart weakness). He was immediately taken to Amta Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.”
The CEO clarified that the entire incident was recorded by the general observer appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for Uday Narayanpur. This confirms that Dolui collapsed only after casting his vote, with his son present at the time. The CEO explicitly stated that there was no coercion or pushing by the central forces.
He added, “While the brave personnel of the CAPF are performing their duties with professionalism and courage, ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections for every citizen across Bengal, they deserve our deep respect and gratitude, not baseless lies or politically motivated accusations.”
The CEO expressed regret that the death of the elderly citizen, who fulfilled his duty as a citizen, is being misused for political gain. He concluded his statement by emphasizing, “Democracy is based on facts, not on spreading fear. May the truth prevail.”
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 8 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Udaipur Kiran & Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
