WestBengal seems to be showing an unprecedented enthusiasm for the electoralexercise, with around 55.76 per cent voter turnout already recorded in thefirst phase of polling so far.
Morethan half of the 73 lakh electorate in the 30 Assembly constituencies hadalready cast their vote and sealed the fate of 191 candidates who are in thefray on the first day of the eight-phase elections in the state underway infive districts.
Therehave been reports of EVM malfunctioning at more than 60 booths and allegationsof violence.
Theserpentine queues showed people are aware of the importance of the crucial pollthat is seeing a bitter battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress-led byChief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP that has pitched every high-profileleader into campaigning.
Thevoters also have 21 women candidates to choose from in the first phase.
Asper the latest figures, the approximate voter turnout trend till 4 pm inBankura was the highest at 64.04 per cent, followed by Jhargram at 59.23 percent, Purbo Medinipur at 57.75 per cent, Paschim Medinipur at 52.60 per centand Purulia at 51.42 per cent, according to the Election Commission's voterturnout App.
InEast Midnapore, two security personnel were reportedly injured in a firingincident that took place early Saturday at the Satsatmal, Bhagwanpur Assemblyconstituency ahead of voting. Tension prevailed in the Tulsidi village wherethe incident took place. Security forces are keeping a close vigil in the area,surrounded by forests that were once Maoist hideouts.
Therewere reports of EVM malfunctioning at 20 booths in Bankura district, eight inJhargram and 39 in Purulia. EVMs in various booths had stopped workingtemporarily due to a technical glitch. People said they had to wait for morethan two hours to cast their ballot.
InPurulia, allegations were raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against aformer minister and Trinamool candidate of purportedly distributing cash amongvoters. The BJP has filed a complaint with the poll body.
SuvenduAdhikari's brother and BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari accused Trinamool BlockPresident Ram Govind Das and his wife for poll rigging at three polling booths,saying "my arrival here created a problem for them to continue with theirmischief, so they attacked my car and thrashed my driver".