Political temperatures surged on the second day of the first phase of polls in West Bengal. Polling began at 7 a.m. in the 31 constituencies, of which 13 are in Paschiim Medinpur and nine each in Bankura and Bardhaman districts. Till 3 p.m. about 71.6 per cent votes were cast in these constituencies.
“Till 1 pm, 71.6 per cent polling was recorded. The turnout in West Midnapore is 76 per cent, 70.8 per cent in Bankura and per cent in 67.96 per cent Bardhaman," said an Election Commission (EC) official.
The number of complaints lodged with the EC had crossed 1,000 by afternoon.
Within hours after the poll started, a polling agent of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had to be hospitalised after being attacked at Jamuria in Bardhaman district. Several crude bombs were seized from near a polling station in the same Assembly segment.
While masked men armed with bamboos and sticks were seen roaming around in certain parts, a video footage of people trying to influence elderly voters also surfaced in the day.
Besides allegations of violence in constituencies like Pandaveshwar, Keshpur Sonamukhi, the scorching heat accounted for a casualty. Parimal Barui at booth number 295 in Pandaveshwar in Burdwan district collapsed and died of suspected sun stroke.
Nearly 70 lakh voters, including 33,68,311 women, were eligible to choose their representatives from 163 candidates. Twenty-one of the contestants are women.
Voting is being held across 8,465 polling stations, including two auxiliary stations.
