80 per cent voter turnout in phase 2 of West Bengal polls

Nearly 80 per cent polling was registered in the second phase of the six-phase Assembly election on Sunday in 56 constituencies spread across six North Bengal districts and Birbhum. About 1.22 crore voters exercised their franchise on Sunday at 13,645 polling stations amid allegations of isolated incidents of violence. The chief electoral officer (CEO) in West Bengal said polling in phase two was relatively calm and peaceful compared to the first phase of voting.

“Compared to the first phase, the second phase was relatively calm. There were fewer complaints and there was a heightened visibility of Central forces which was due to a conscious effort on our part. At 5 pm the overall polling percentage was 79.70 per cent,” said CEO Sunil Gupta. However, the final voter turnout will increase further as voting continued till 6 pm. Despite sweltering heat and humidity, long queues of voters were seen outside most of the polling booths.

“At 5 pm polling percentage in Alipurduar district was 82.07, in Jalpaiguri it was 77.69, in Darjeeling district it was 74.00, in North Dinajpur district it was 78.90, in South Dinajpur district it was 82.72, in Malda district it was 79.60 and in Birbhum it was 82.89,” Mr Gupta informed. He also said reserve polling officer Gopi Chakraborti, who was on duty in Alipurduar district, suffered a stroke and died.

Deputy election commissioner Sandeep Saxena told a press conference here that the polling percentage in the 56 Assembly constituencies on Sunday was 86.51 per cent in the 2011 Assembly elections and 82.70 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “There were reports of disruption of polling due to EVM errors. The EVMs were replaced quickly. In the beginning hours, near polling station 78 of Bolpur constituency, there was a clash between two parties in which three people were hurt,” the deputy EC said.

There was an initial poll boycott in seven booths in Malda district over developmental issues. “However, polling started after the sector officer persuaded the people to lift the boycott,” the EC official said.

There were allegations of false voting in the presence of the presiding officer in a booth in Malda’s English Bazaar. Following a complaint lodged by the CPI(M), the presiding officer was removed. Polling has now been held in 105 of the total 294 constituencies in Bengal in the first two phases. Polling for the remaining phases will be held on April 21, 25, 30 and May 5.