A large number of people had queued up in front of the booths at 7 AM to beat the sweltering heat with day temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius.
Advertisement
While a very high turnout of 84.71 per cent turnout was recorded in West Medinipur district, 78.87 per cent votes were cast in Bankura and 75.12 per cent polling was registered in Bardhaman. “There has been widespread violence, voter intimidation, polling is far from peaceful in Sabang”, said Congress leader and former minister Manas Bhunia. Polling officer Parimal Barui at booth no. 295 in Pandaveshwar of Burdwan district collapsed and died of suspected sun stroke.
There were reports of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in some polling centres which disrupted voting for some time but the election process continued uninterrupted once they were replaced, election office said.
In Raniganj constituency, a presiding officer was removed following complaints that local Trinamool MLA Sohrab Ali, convicted on charges of stealing railway scrap, was trying to influence voters as his wife Nargis is a candidate from the seat on a Trinamool Congress ticket.
Burdwan/Guwahati: A CPI(M) agent was allegedly beaten up by Trinamool Congress workers and obstructed from entering a polling booth, while bombs were found in two bags near another booth in Jamuria Assembly constituency in Burdwan district where polling is underway on Monday.
“Since last night (Sunday), Trinamool goons have been on the prowl, intimidating voters and attacking polling agents”.
Mishra, also the leader of opposition, faced angry demonstrations from residents while visiting some of the booths in his constituency.
Advertisement
In Delhi, the Congress moved the Election Commission alleging malpractices in some constituencies and sought “protective measures” from the poll panel. “I have informed the party leadership about this”, said Sohom. The Left Front, then in power, won the remaining 11.
