West Bengal seems to be showing an unprecedented enthusiasm for the electoral exercise, with around 55.76 per cent voter turnout already recorded in the first phase of polling so far.
More than half of the 73 lakh electorate in the 30 Assembly constituencies had already cast their vote and sealed the fate of 191 candidates who are in the fray on the first day of the eight-phase elections in the state underway in five districts.
There have been reports of EVM malfunctioning at more than 60 booths and allegations of violence.
The serpentine queues showed people are aware of the importance of the crucial poll that is seeing a bitter battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress-led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP that has pitched every high-profile leader into campaigning.
The voters also have 21 women candidates to choose from in the first phase.
As per the latest figures, the approximate voter turnout trend till 4 pm in Bankura was the highest at 64.04 per cent, followed by Jhargram at 59.23 per cent, Purbo Medinipur at 57.75 per cent, Paschim Medinipur at 52.60 per cent and Purulia at 51.42 per cent, according to the Election Commission's voter turnout App.
In East Midnapore, two security personnel were reportedly injured in a firing incident that took place early Saturday at the Satsatmal, Bhagwanpur Assembly constituency ahead of voting. Tension prevailed in the Tulsidi village where the incident took place. Security forces are keeping a close vigil in the area, surrounded by forests that were once Maoist hideouts.
There were reports of EVM malfunctioning at 20 booths in Bankura district, eight in Jhargram and 39 in Purulia. EVMs in various booths had stopped working temporarily due to a technical glitch. People said they had to wait for more than two hours to cast their ballot.
In Purulia, allegations were raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against a former minister and Trinamool candidate of purportedly distributing cash among voters. The BJP has filed a complaint with the poll body.
Suvendu Adhikari's brother and BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari accused Trinamool Block President 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 their mischief, so they attacked my car and thrashed my driver".