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Bengal Polls: 18.76% Voting in First Two Hours Amid Stray Tensions

The first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections saw an 18.76% voter turnout in the initial two hours, with the process described as overall peaceful. Tensions flared in Murshidabad's Raninagar constituency where Congress alleged its polling agent was forcefully evicted by TMC activists. In Nandigram and Haldia, the TMC accused police of harassing its supporters under instructions from Suvendu Adhikari, who denied the allegations. Adhikari countered that the polls were largely peaceful except for one area in West Midnapore.

Key Points: West Bengal Polls: Peaceful Start, 18.76% Turnout in 2 Hours

  • 18.76% turnout in first two hours
  • Tensions in Murshidabad's Raninagar
  • Congress alleges agent eviction
  • TMC protests police bias in Nandigram
  • Suvendu Adhikari denies allegations
2 min read

Bengal polls: Polling process overall peaceful; 18.76 pc voting in first two hours

West Bengal Assembly elections see 18.76% voting in first two hours. Process largely peaceful with isolated incidents in Murshidabad and Nandigram.

"They have forcefully evicted one of our agents from that booth. - Zulfikar Ali"

Kolkata, April 23

Barring stray incidents of tension in certain pockets, the polling process in 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts of West Bengal has been overall peaceful in the first two hours on Thursday, with 18.76 per cent voting recorded till 9 a.m.

District-wise, the highest polling percentage till 9 a.m. has been recorded in West Midnapore at 20.51 per cent and the lowest in Malda at 16.76 per cent, as per the statistics provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.

At a polling booth under Raninagar Assembly constituency in minority-dominated Murshidabad district, which had already been earmarked by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the most sensitive district, tension flared up in the morning, following Congress' allegations of their polling agent being forcefully evicted from the booth by the ruling Trinamool Congress activists.

The Congress candidate from Raninagar, Zulfikar Ali, alleged that Trinamool Congress- backed hooligans were hiding in a forested area with crude bombs and firearms and intimidating voters going to the polling booths. "They have forcefully evicted one of our agents from that booth," Ali alleged.

At the two Assembly constituencies of Nandigram and its adjacent Haldia, in East Midnapore district, which is the native district of the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, the Trinamool Congress leadership accused the police officers in charge of the polling duties of deliberately harassing the ruling party supporters following the instructions of Adhikari.

There were scattered protests by the Trinamool Congress workers in both these constituencies.

Adhikari denied the allegations and said that the polling process has been more or less peaceful both in East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts. "They are raising these baseless allegations, sensing their inevitable defeat. Except in Pingla in West Midnapore, there are some tensions because of the role played by the local inspector-in-charge, Chinmoy Pramanik. I have demanded his suspension," Adhikari said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The allegations from both sides in Nandigram and Murshidabad are concerning. This blame game happens every election. The ECI must ensure a level playing field and take strict action against anyone intimidating voters, regardless of party affiliation.
A
Aman W
West Bengal elections are always high drama. "Crude bombs in forested areas" sounds like a movie plot, but it's sadly a reality in some pockets. Hope the central forces are deployed effectively in these sensitive areas.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, it's disheartening to see such serious allegations. Evicting polling agents is a direct attack on electoral transparency. The EC's reputation is on the line here—they need to investigate these incidents immediately and decisively.
V
Vikram M
The voter turnout is promising! People are coming out despite the tensions. That's the spirit of Bengal. Baseless allegations or not, the final result will be the true voice of the people. Jai Hind!
K
Kavitha C
Suvendu Adhikari demanding suspension of a police officer shows how politicized the administration has become. It's a sorry state of affairs when officials are accused of taking sides instead of upholding the law impartially.

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