Polling 59.78 pct in West Bengal, 55 pct in Assam till 1pm

Brisk turnout have been reported in both the states despite the scorching summer heat.

In West Bengal the polling for the second part of first phase election was marked by stray incidents of violence and intimidation in which at least three persons were injured while in Assam there were no reports of untoward incidents.

In West Bengal the polling is being held in 31 constituencies spread across three districts involving 70 lakh voters and 63 candidates.

In Assam, where second phase of polling is going on in  61 constituencies,  total of 1,04,35,277 voters will decide the fates of 525 candidates.

In one of the incidents of violence in West Bengal, a CPI(M) polling agent was badly injured when he was beaten up allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers, who wanted to prevent his entry into a polling booth he was assigned for work in Jamuria in Bardhaman district.

A Trinamool Congress worker, Sheikh Shamser, was arrested in this connection, the official said.

Polling was held up for some time in a booth in Chandrakona in West Medinipur district after police lathicharged warring people belonging to rival political parties.

One person was seriously injured in an attack allegedly by Trinamool activists when he was returning home after casting his vote in Sabang constituency of West Medinipur district. The Congress claims that the man who broke one of his legs in the attack is a party supporter.

In another incident, two bags containing bombs were found near booth number 35 under Jamuria constituency. 

The ruling Trinamool Congress in the state is taking on the Left Front-Congress combine and the BJP.

In Assam, voters, particularly women and first time voters, stood in queues at the polling booths two hours ahead of the commencement of polling.

Ruling Congress, the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance and the AIUDF are locked in a keen battle along with other political party contestants and Independents.

There were reports of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in some polling centres which disrupted voting, which however, resumed after replacement of machines.

Former two-time Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta along with his wife former MP Dr Jayashree Mahanta voted in Barhampur and AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal cast their votes.