WB polls-Phase I: Turnout 83.75 p.c.; Two officials die of heart attack

Polling team trekking down after finishing the first phase of polling on Monday from Sirikhola, the highest polling booth located at 9200 feet in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

Two polling officers have died of heart attack in separate booths in Jalpaiguri district during the first phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal.

Pramod Roy, a school teacher, and Maneswar Roy, an inspector with the food and supplies department died yesterday, State’s Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta said.

While the former suffered a heart attack at the time of submitting voting materials after the poll, the latter complained of chest pain at the time of polling, Mr. Gupta said.

He said the EC office would pay an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the two.

Meanwhile, a re-poll was likely in a booth in Karandighi in North Dinajpur district as the mock poll data was not cleared before the start of the actual poll.

“We have intimated the EC about this. If a re-poll was allowed, then it will take place tomorrow”, Mr. Gupta said.

The voter turnout touched 83.75 per cent in the first phase held in all the six districts of north Bengal.

Mr. Gupta said Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi will come to the city for a three-day visit to discuss poll preparedness for the third and fourth phases.

He said CPI(M) had lodged a complaint with the CEO’s office alleging use of black money by Trinamool Congress in campaigning.

“We referred the matter to the EC”, he said.