Though there were
some stray incidents but the state recorded huge polling in the fifth phase of
the election. The final figures are yet to come but the voters' turnout
recorded by the commission shows that there was 78.36 percent polling till
5:35pm on Saturday evening.
According to the data released by the commission, Jalpaiguri registered the
highest voting percentage of 81.73 percent followed by East Burdwan with 81.72
percent. Nadia witnessed 81.57 percent voting while North 24 Parganas and
Darjeeling had 74.83 and 74.32 percent voting respectively. Kalimpong recorded
the lowest turnout with 69.56 percent.
There were altogether 319 candidates from different political parties in the
fifth phase of polls that was conducted in 45 constituencies including 7 in
Jalpaiguri, 5 in Darjeeling, 1 in Kalimpong, 8 in Nadia, 16 in North 24
Parganas and 8 in East Burdwan.
Though overall the voting was peaceful all over the state, there were some
sporadic incidents including the arrest of an Independent candidate of Chakdah
AC in Nadia district for having a firearm in his possession. "Koushik
Bhowmick, the candidate was found going around a polling booth at Baliadanga,
Daspara area with a country made gun tucked in his trousers. He dropped the
firearm when the central forces intercepted him after the local people raised a
hue and cry," CEO Ariz Aftab told the media after the election.
Incidentally a booth agent of the BJP Abhijit Samanta died after falling sick
at a polling station in Kamarhati, North 24 Parganas district. He was rushed to
a local hospital where he was declared brought dead. In another incident three
persons were arrested when one person identified as Haran Gaur was attacked
near Santipur police station area in Nadia district in which he sustained leg
injuries. He was taken to a hospital.
Supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
clashed with each other at Shanti Nagar in Bidhannagar in North 24 Parganas
district. The supporters of both the parties resorted to stone pelting and
physically assaulted each other. A huge police force accompanied by the central
forces reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) also referred to an incident where a TMC
booth agent at Galsi in East Burdwan district was beaten up allegedly by BJP
supporters when he tried to stop them from proxy voting at a polling booth in
Jahanpur.
"The Commission has received 2,241 complaints through various platforms
today (Saturday) and 123 people have been arrested including 100 preventive
arrests." the CEO said.
When asked about complaints by a number of candidates that they were prevented
from entering polling booths by the central forces, the CEO said that the
forces have been issued clear cut instructions that candidates should not be
stopped from entering polling booths. The TMC candidate from Kamarhati, Madan
Mitra and the BJP nominee from Baranagar Parno Mitra were allegedly initially
prevented from entering booths.
The 45 assembly seats that witnessed voting are expected to see a close fight
with the TMC leading in 23 against the BJP's 22 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.