Enthusiastic turnout as WB, Assam go to polls
While 79.79% people voted in phase 1 of Bengal polls, at least 72.46% turned out in the Assam elections
KOLKATA/GUWAHATI: West Bengal recorded an estimated 79.79% voter turnout while Assam saw 72.46% voters in attendance as on 7pm, according to the Election Commission, as the two eastern states went to polls on Saturday.
While assembly elections in Bengal will be held in eight phases, with the second phase scheduled on April 1, neighbouring Assam will vote in three phases.
While Centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), buoyed by encouraging results in the 2019 general elections, is looking to grasp power from the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, Opposition Congress is hoping to make a comeback in the BJP-ruled Assam.
In Bengal, the polling ended at 6.30 pm and among the five districts in the state, Purba
Medinipur recorded the highest turnout with 82.42% till end of voting time. Purulia recorded the lowest voter turnout with 77.1%.
Jhargram recorded 80.55%, Paschim Medinipur 80.16% and Bankura 80.03% voter turnout.
Stray incidents of violence were reported from some areas that voted in the state.
Polling began at 7am with voters turning up at the polling booths to decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates, including 21 women candidates in the fray, in constituencies in Purulia, Jhargram and segments of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur.
Voting was held in 30 seats — several of them part of the onceNaxal-hit Jangalmahal region — amid tight security and strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines, an EC official said.
In some booths, voters were provided with masks, sanitisers and polythene gloves.
The Election Commission has set up 10,288 polling stations, of which 8,229 are the main and 2,059 are auxiliary. “Till 5 pm, 79.79 percent polling has been recorded in the state. By and large, elections were held peacefully,” an EC official said.
Violence and scuffle, however, marred the polling process is some areas.
In Kanthi Dakshin seat of Purba Medinipur district, voters staged protests outside a polling booth over alleged malfunctioning of an electronic voting machine. The agitators blocked a road outside a polling station at Majna, claiming that the VVPAT slip showed results in favour of a particular party, no matter which outfit they voted for. A contingent of central forces was sent to the area to control the situation, an EC official said, adding that the machine was eventually replaced.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in West Midnapore, claimed that the BJP has manipulated EVMs and used central forces to intimidate the voters. “Today, in some polling booths of Kanthi, the VVPAT showed that votes were getting polled in favour of the BJP, even as a perlowing
son pressed the button next to the symbol of some other party. In some areas, central forces were seen threatening voters. The EC must take action,” she said.The TMC also raised concerns over the “fluctuating turnout figures” on the EC’s mobile app. The EC, however, allayed the concerns and said it takes time to collate the final figures.
The BJP, meanwhile, moved EC accusing the TMC of letting loose a reign of fear in several areas.
The state is witnessing a triangular contest this time with Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress-Left alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the fray. In Assam, Rupohihat constituency witnessed the highest voting percentage at 83% while Sootea constituency saw the lowest voting percentage at 64%, according to the latest trends.
Bokakhat district reported the highest voter turnout at 80% while Nazira reported the lowest voter turnout at 64%.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal cast his vote at JP Nagar constituency in the Dibrugarh district. Assam Congress Chief Ripun Bora cast his vote in the Gohpur district.
A total of 264 candidates are in the fray for 47 seats -- 42 seats from 11 districts of upper Assam and northern Assam region and five seats from central Assam’s Nagaon district. Polling for the next two phases in Assam will be held on April 1 and April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2, the same day it will be carried out in neighbouring Bengal.