- Title: INDIA: PEOPLE OF WEST BENGAL PREPARE TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTION.
- Date: 8th February 1969
- Summary: TWO CANDIDATES CAMPAIGNING IN ARAMBAGH CONSTITUENCY. Initials DHC/VS/BHH/PF Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 23rd February 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ARAMBAGH, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
- Country: India
- Reuters ID: LVA9M5FTK3XZKDNDDLDQ4BXD8P8
- Story Text: THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE HUNG OVER WEST BENGAL TODAY (SATURDAY) AS THE AREA'S 20-MILLION VOTERS PREPARED TO GO TO THE POLLS IN WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A CLOSE CONTEST BETWEEN THE COMMUNIST-DOMINATED 12-PARTY UNITED FRONT AND THE RULING CONGRESS PARTY. VOTING IS FOR THE 280-SEAT STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, AND TAKES PLACE TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
YESTERDAY TWO FORMER CHIEF MINISTERS OF WEST BENGAL, CONGRESS PARTY CANDIDATE P.C. SEN AND UNITED FRONT CANDIDATE AJOY MUKERJEE, CARRIED OUT LAST MINUTE CAMPAIGNING IN THE ARAMBAGH CONSTITUENCY OF WEST BENGAL. THE MEN VISITED FARMERS AND TOWNSPEOPLE IN ARAMBAGH. MR. SEN CALLED AT FARMS SOLICITING SUPPORT IN A LAND ROVER, AND MR. MUKERJEE WALKED THROUGH THE STREETS OF ARAMBAGH, STOPPING OCCASIONALLY TO MAKE BRIEF SPEECHES TO THE CROWD SURROUNDING HIM.
THE STATE ADMINISTRATION IS CONCERNED THAT CLASHES COULD BREAK OUT ON POLLING DAY IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE STATE. ACCORDING TO A PARTY SPOKESMAN, AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND MORE THAN 1,000 HAVE BEEN HURT IN PRE-ELECTION CLASHES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
A CONGRESS SPOKESMAN SAID THREE OF THEIR WORKERS WERE STARBED TO DEATH BY OPPONENTS, AND A UNITED FRONT SPOKESMAN CLAIMED THAT FIVE OF THEIR WORKERS HAD DIED. THREE OF THESE, THE UNITED FRONT MAN SAID, WERE COMMUNISTS.
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