Over 56 p.c. polling in West Bengal till 1 pm

May 12, 2014 02:22 pm | Updated October 18, 2016 02:46 pm IST - Kolkata

Amidst allegation of violence across several Lok Sabha constituencies directed at the Trinamool Congress more than 56 per cent of the 2.55 crore electorate in the 17 seats of West Bengal exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Monday.

About 40.2 per cent votes were polled by 11 am on an average in the 17 constituencies in the State. The initial trends of polls pointed out that highest percentage of votes were cast in the Lok Sabha seats in Purba Medinipur district. While Tamluk Lok Sabha seat recorded 49 per cent voter turn out till 11 am, 45 percent votes were polled in Kanthi parliamentary seat in the same district.

The two Lok Sabha seat in the city recorded lower voter turnout when compared to the districts with over 30 per cent votes polled both Kolkata North and Kolkata South seat in the first four hours.

The allegations of violence were reported from Basirhaat, Joynagar and Jadavpur Lok Sabha seats where the supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were attacked by Trinamool Congress activists.

Bombs were also hurled in the Posta area of the city in front of the house of the local BJP councillor which comes under North Kolkata Lok Sabha seat.

A group of supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Haroa area of Basirhaat Lok Sabha constituency alleged that >armed miscreants of Trinamool Congress attacked them when they were going to cast their vote early in the morning. More than a dozen of people were injured and a few sustained bullet injuries in the attack.

Allegations were made by supporters and the polling agents of the CPI (M) agents in Bhangar area under Javadpur constituency and Canning in Joynagar constituency. There were reports of attack on Congress workers from Berhampore Lok Sabha seat in the State’s Murshidabad district. CPI(M) candidate from Kolkata South Lok Sabha seat Nandini Mukherjee alleged that she was “heckled” by supporters of the Trinamool Congress. Following the allegation Election Commission had directed the Kolkata police to provide security to the CPI(M) candidate.

There was hardly any traffic on thoroughfares in the city and shops and other business establishments remained closed as polling on both Kolkata North and Kolkata South seat was underway in the day.

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