Polling across 4 states, one UT concludes with high turnout, Bengal sees sporadic incidents of violence

As per the statement of the Election Commission of India (ECI), voting was conducted "peacefully" in 1,53,538 polling stations across these states and UT.

While Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry went for single-phase voting, it was the third round of polling in Assam and West Bengal.

Till 5 PM, Kerala recorded 69.95 pct voters' turnout while Tamil Nadu registered 64.92 pct. In Puducherry, the turnout 77.90 pct.

In the third phase, 78.94 people exercised their voting rights while West Bengal saw a turnout of 77.68 pct, as per the Election Commission of India report.

As per news agency UNI, the third of the eight-phase West Bengal Assembly election recorded a heavy turnout of 84.21 per cent finally.

"As per standard procedure all these EVMs and VVPATs had already undergone First Level Checking, Randomisation, and Commissioning in the presence of Political Parties/Candidates agents," the ECI stated.

However, unlike the last two phases, West Bengal, which is seeing a heavy contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), witnessed by and large peaceful voting on Tuesday except for sporadic instances of violence. Voting took place in Hooghly, South 24 Parganas and Howrah districts.

According to reports, some candidates were attacked during this phase of polling and the CPI-M submitted video footage before the ECI and alleged that ruling Trinamool Congress men were stopping, threatening and assaulting women who were going to cast their votes in South 24 Pargana's Bishnupur.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an independent inquiry from EC after EVMs found in TMC candidate's house in Howrah's Uluberia on Monday late night.

BJP leader and in-charge of West Bengal Amit Malvia accused the ruling TMC of attempting to rig the poll and stealing the EVMs.

"EVMs found in TMC leaders house in Uluberia Uttar, Howrah district," Malvia tweeted.

Commenting on EVMs and VVPAT found at TMC leader's house, Congress state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said that in West Bengal, the administration conducts polls in favour of the ruling party.

"That is why, in last Panchayat polls in West Bengal, 34 per cent of voters couldn't vote. It resulted in an unopposed victory of the ruling party on 20,000 seats," he said.

The EC also suspended a sector officer after four EVMs were recovered from the house of a local TMC leader in Howrah's Uluberia on Monday late night, just a few hours before the third phase of the election.

ECI said those were reserved EVM and have been removed from the polling process.

Earlier sharing footage, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged blatant misuse of central forces.

"The blatant misuse of Central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue, @ECISVEEP continues to be a mute spectator while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters & influence many to vote in favour of one party," she tweetd.

Many voters at a polling booth in Diamond Harbour constituency claimed that TMC workers didn't let them vote. "Officials came here but didn't facilitate voting for us," said a woman.

Dipak Haldar, a BJP candidate from Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas, also claimed that TMC supporters were not allowing people to cast their votes in booth no. 180, 143 Dagira Baduldanga. He said he has complained to EC officials.

Meanwhile, TMC worker Sunil Roy died in violence in Hooghly district.

Samiran Mitra, BJP candidate from Hooghly alleged that three BJP workers were beaten up at Sipaigachi in Haripal of Hooghly.

Senior TMC leader and Rajya Sabha member Derek O Brien wrote a letter to Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal regarding 'Gruesome sexual assault on minor girl by CRPF jawan in AC 198-Tarakeshwar, Hooghly'.

Clashes also broke out between police and the BJP workers at Dubrajpur in Birbhum district on Tuesday, over the death of a party worker. The police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to many protestors and policemen.

A large crowd engaged in a clash with the police in the poll-bound region, forcing the cops to take action against them. The BJP workers claimed that Patihar Dome, BJP Booth Vice-President allegedly murdered by TMC Goons at Dubrajpur.

With the conclusion of the third phase, West Bengal is yet to vote in five more phases of Assembly polls. The counting for all states will be held on May 2.

 

With UNI inputs

All images' credit: UNI

Mamata Banerjee's image credit: Facebook