Allegations of rigging as Bhowanipore votes to decide Bengal CM's fate

The high-profile Bhowanipore constituency in South Kolkata recorded 53.32% voter turnout till 5pm in bypolls held on Thursday.

The bypoll pits chief minister Mamata Banerjee against BJP's youth leader Priyanka Tibrewala. The TMC supremo needs to win this seat and get elected as an MLA to retain the chief minister's post.

Also watch: Are Bhowanipore bypolls a stepping stone for Mamata's national aspirations?

Tibrewal has claimed that TMC forcibly stopped the voting process at a polling booth in ward number 72, and that state minister Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee were trying to influence the voters. The BJP has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Hakim and Mukherjee.

Hakim, however, termed the allegations as baseless and that BJP is making lame excuses.

A minor scuffle between supporters of the TMC and BJP was reported outside a booth over claims of the ruling party bringing fake voters inside the polling centre. Security forces present at the booth brought the situation under control.

The TMC has also registered a complaint with the EC, accusing Tibrewal of moving with an entourage of 20 cars and intimidating voters, a charge denied by her.