One person was killed and several injured as sporadic violence marred the third phase of polling in West Bengal. According to the Election Commission, 79.36 per cent votes were polled till 6.45 pm.
The deceased has been identified as Tiarul Kalam (56), who was hacked during clashes between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Murshidabad. Four people have been arrested.
Crude bombs were also hurled by unidentified miscreants outside some polling stations in Domkal in Murshidadbad and Kaliachawk in Malda South. Videos of the incident have surfaced on social media. Domkal and Kaliachawk have had a history of political violence.
Five seats, including Congress strongholds of Malda South, Malda North, Murshidabad and Jangipur, and the Trinamool Congress bastion Balurghat, went to the polls on Tuesday.
A total of 80,23,846 people will vote in 8,528 polling stations to decide the fate of 61 candidates, six of whom are women. Around 324 companies of Central police forces have been deployed in the State. This will cover 92 per cent of the polling stations.
Reports of faulty EVMs stalling the process were also received from a few polling stations in Malda North.
Congress bastions
The Malda district, which consist of Malda-North and Malda-South seats, is “Congress’ Amethi” in West Bengal. The politics there is dominated by former Congress law-maker ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury’s family.
The TMC, which is trying to breach the bastion here, is banking on defections from the Khan Choudhury family. The BJP, too, has gained ground here.
In Murshidabad district, which comprises Jangipur and Murshidabad, the TMC has managed to make some ground, banking yet again on defections.