Heavy polling was recorded in the first four hours in theseventh phase of Bengal Assembly elections where people of 34 constituenciesacross five districts are out to exercise their franchise. According to theinitial data released by the Election Commission, the state recorded a voterturnout of 17.95 per cent with Murshidabad district recording the highestpolling of around 21 per cent.
According to the data, South Kolkata where polling isbeing held in 4 constituencies, recorded the lowest of 13.07 per cent. Maldawith 6 constituencies recorded a polling of 18.85 per cent followed by SouthDinajpur where 18.77 per cent polling was recorded from the 6 constituenciesand the 9 constituencies of West Burdwan recorded a polling of 17.24 per cent.
As far as individual constituencies are concerned, Gazolein Malda district recorded the highest polling of 20.56 per cent andPandaveshwar in West Burdwan recorded the lowest turnout of only 11 per cent.
However, there were some small incidents reported in thefirst four hours of polling though overall the polling process remainedpeaceful. The first incident was reported at 9.50 a.m. in Rashbehariconstituency in South Kolkata where Trinamool Congress candidate Debashis Kumaralleged that he was not allowed to enter the booth by the central forces.
At10.03 a.m. BJP candidate from Raninagar Masuhara Khatun alleged attack on hercar by TMC activists. In both the cases administration reacted promptly andtook the situation under control swiftly.
The total number of electors including service voters inthese constituencies are 81,96,242 with 42,00,447 male electors and 39,88,239female voters. The total numbers of polling booths are 11,376 that include8,634 main and 2,742 auxiliary booths. The number of 80 plus voters are1,01,069 while 50,919 are PWD (Persons with Disabilities) voters. The total numberof service electors is 7,335, third gender voters are 221 while overseas votersare 33.
Though primarily 36 assembly constituencies werescheduled for the election but it was reduced to 34 after the death of twoSanjukta Morcha candidates of Samsergunj and Jangipur assembly constituenciesin Murshidabad, the elections were deferred to May 16.
The Election Commission has deployed 26 generalobservers, 9 expenditure observers and 6 police observers for the 7th phase ofpolls. There will be webcasting facilities in 50 per cent of the booths andmicro-observers will be deployed in 20 per cent of the booths.