Instances of threatening at 2-3 places, everything fine: BJP's Hooghly candidate Locket Chatterjee

Hooghly (West Bengal) [India], May 20 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and candidate from Hooghly, Locket Chatterjee said that while there are instances of threats at some places in her constituency, the overall situation is peaceful and everyone will be exercising their franchise.
"Everything is going on fine...There were instances of threatening at 2-3 places at a booth in Balagarh, Dhaniakhali. EVM machines are not working at a few locations but work is going on those," Chatterjee said speaking to ANI on Monday as the fifth phase of voting is underway.
"I am here at Dhaniakhali and the situation is fine. Everyone will exercise their franchise," she added.
Responding to a question asked by the reporter on the challenge posed by rival Trinamool candidate Rachana Banerjee, Chatterjee said, "I do not have anything against the (TMC) candidate. She does not even know about Trinamool. No one here trusts Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee. They (BJP) did their research with I-PAC and chose their candidate."
Hitting out at the ruling party, Chatterjee said, "Voting is being done here against corruption and in the name of PM Modi. The corruption and the threats going on here are because they did not work."
"We hope that the EC will ensure a free and fair election here..." urging people to come out and vote on Monday.
While the TMC has fielded actor Rachna Banerjee from Hooghly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) which is in partnership with the Congress in the INDIA bloc has fielded Manadip Ghosh.
Voting for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Monday morning across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements.
The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), polling for 35 assembly constituencies of the Odisha legislative assembly is taking place simultaneously on Monday.
As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting.
The fifth phase is witnessing key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success.
Eight states/UTs polling in phase 5 are: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.