Bengal phase 3 polls: 78.3 pct turnout

About 78.3 percent of the 1.45 crore people spread across 75 constituencies in three districts of West Bengal thronged to 17,792 polling stations throughout Wednesday for third phase of state elections as polling concluded without any major incidents.

This was arguably the most crucial phase of elections in which capital city Kolkata was up for grabs with 11 seats. However, the city saw the lowest turnout in the six-phased elections so far at 62 percent.

The other two districts South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas, which included several heavyweight candidates including Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, however, saw high turnouts at 82.6 percent and 80.7 percent with respectively.

Heavy rains interrupted the voting procedure at some areas in Kolkata. The number of voter turnout suddenly decreased across the booths due to the rains in the afternoon.

Polling began at 7 am and continued till 5 pm. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kumar Gupta assured voters stringent security measures have been taken to allow them exercise their democratic right fearlessly.

Polling in all districts concluded by and large peacefully on Wednesday under heavy security arrangements. No major law and order related incidents were reported during the day, a government news release informed.

The release also said that there were reports of one arrest and 106 preventive arrests across the three districts. About 71 and 35 malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs) were switched during the mock and regular polls.

However, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of putting up its banners and festoons within 200 metres of a booth Behala in south Kolkata, as against the rules of Election Commission.

The CPI-M also accused that TMC candidate and actor Chiranjit of trying to influence voters at his Barasat constituency in North 24 Parganas.

In another incident, a CPI-M agent was allegedly beaten up by TMC activists at Bijpur in North 24 Parganas.

Reacting to the incident, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said: ?We have complained to the Election Commission. There are three phases of polls still left. We are worried that violence might increase in the coming days.?

Making counter allegations, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said: “This time the election is really important. I urge those who have still not cast their vote to go and exercise their democratic right.”

“CPI-M cadres are performing rigging in various parts of Calcutta specially we have reports from Jadavpur area of South Kolkata. These activities will not help them. They have no right of harassing common man,” she said.

The TMC too accused CPI-M cadres of beating up its members. The car of a Trinamool candidate was allegedly smashed by communist party workers in Kasba on the outskirts of Kolkata.

Four crude bombs too were reportedly recovered near a polling booth ion North 24 Parganas.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee cast his vote at Ballygunge, writer and TMC candidate Bratya Basu at Kalindi, CPI-M leader Goutam Deb at Basirhat South, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat at Alipore, former Indian team skipper Sourav Ganguly at Behala East, former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and author Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay voted at Rashbehari station.

Tollygunge constituency saw the maximum number of star voters, including actors Tapas Pal, Ranjit Mallick, Koel Mallick and recitor Bratati Bandopadhyay. TMC leader and singer Suman Chatterjee voted at Jadavpur, along with actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty and his wife Mithu.

Altogether 479 candidates were in the fray for the third phase. Out of them 46 were female candidates who ran in 31 seats.

While the main contest is between the Congress-Trinamool Congress alliance and the Left Front, contestants from smaller unrecognised parties and independents could make a dent as they number about 200.

The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements for the polls. Fifty general observers, 11 expenditure observers and two police observers along with one special observer did rounds of polling stations.

Central forces were deployed in all booths. Besides, armed police forces of West Bengal and some other states were deployed.

Technology too was amply used. 2,191 micro observers, 1,222 digital cameras and 660 video cameras were deployed. Live webcasting arrangements were made from 220 poll booths.

The EC had deployed 8,633 polling personnel. Media reports said at least 17 presiding officers were changed during the day over various charges.

With the third leg getting wrapped up by Wednesday, West Bengal will go to vote for its 294-seat Assembly in the fourth, fifth and sixth phase for on May 3, 7 and 10 respectively. The counting is on May 13.