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Incidents of violence notwithstanding West Bengal reported the highest voter turnout at 76.47 per cent till 6.00 pm for the fourth phase of polls. This was the highest voter turnout amongst all the States which went to polls on Monday.
Throughout the day, clashes were reported primarily between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its prime challenger the BJP across most of the eight seats — Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Purba Burdwan, Budrwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum — covering five districts, that went to polls this time. No death or major injuries were reported
The BJP, which has emerged as the principal opposition to Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, is eyeing a good show in Birbhum, Asansol and Ranaghat.
The Trinamool is eyeing a win in seven of these seats. Baharampur remains amongst the last bastions of the Congress with sitting MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury being the key player.
Asansol, a focus
In Asansol, Union Minister Babul Supriyo’s car was attacked allegedly by TMC workers. His car was attacked near Barabani. Supriyo, who is seeking a re-election from Asansol and is up against actor Moon Moon Sen, demanded re-poll in all booths in Raniganj and Barabani Assembly segments. A delegation of the BJP met the EC in this regard.
The Election Commission has also directed that an FIR be filed against Supriyo after he allegedly entered a polling booth in Asansol and tried to interfere with the polling process.
The Minister had allegedly questioned a TMC polling agent over why the BJP polling agent was missing from the booth .
In Birbhum and Dubrajpur, there were reports of Central forces firing inside a polling station when a ‘mob’ tried to enter and attack forces. Sources said it was a “blank fire”.
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said law and order is a State subject and she was always opposed to the deployment of central forces.
Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from Baharampur and Ranaghat. The BJP’s Krishnanagar candidate, Kalyan Chaubey, also took to social media to allege “booth capturing by TMC goons”.
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