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IPS serviceman Ajay Pal Sharma, labelled 'Singham'
Kolkata: Falta successful South 24 Parganas woke up connected the polling time with apprehensions of a large face-off. One antheral moved relentlessly crossed the constituency, portion the different stayed stationed successful a azygous room, monitoring each enactment from a distance.
The much-hyped 'Singham vs Pushpa' confrontation, built implicit days of warnings and counter-threats, ne'er happened. What came alternatively were EVM complaints. In 1 instance, a portion was recovered stuck connected the BJP candidate's sanction connected the EVM. "Maximum complaints were from Falta. Among 32 complaints, 20 were verified. A repoll volition beryllium held," CEO Manoj Agarwal said. Across Bengal, 77 complaints were received. In the days starring up to the election, the Falta constituency had been primed for a confrontation.
IPS Ajay Pal Sharma, an 'encounter specialist' from UP appointed arsenic EC's constabulary observer, was projected arsenic 'Singham'. Matching the rhetoric, Jahangir Khan, Trinamool Congress campaigner and section governmental 'satrap', declared himself to beryllium 'Pushpa'. Their near-encounters and the charged governmental rhetoric had acceptable expectations for a melodramatic predetermination day. By 7 am, Sharma was already connected the move. For the adjacent 2 hours, his convoy, much than 10-vehicle strong, traversed done Falta.
At intervals, information unit stepped out, dispersing clusters of radical gathered adjacent booths, portion Sharma remained glued to his telephone wrong the vehicle. "Sir is avoiding media glare... But, if immoderate elector faces trouble, helium volition beryllium determination to help," said a information personnel. Even earlier Sharma's convoy rolled out, Khan had taken position.
At his enactment office, helium settled into what aides called his "control room".
For implicit 12 hours, Khan stayed fixed betwixt TV screens and his phone, portion workers streamed successful and out. Apart from insignificant skirmishes, polling remained mostly incident-free, which seemed to bolster the assurance wrong Khan's 'control room'. "Even if they nonstop 100 specified Singhams, Pushpa jhukega nahi. Pushpa volition turn stronger," said Khan.
