TMC-BJP khela begins, 80% vote in Bengal Phase 1; 77% in Assam

 

Apart from some sporadic incidents, the polls in 30 constituencies were conducted peacefully. At least 10 people have been arrested in different incidents,” said Aariz Aftab, Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.

THE FIRST PHASE of polling in 30 Assembly constituencies spread across five districts in West Bengal on Saturday was marred by sporadic incidents of violence, complaints of rigging, and snags in Electronic Voting Machines. The state recorded almost 80 per cent (79.79 per cent) voting.

Assam, meanwhile, registered 76.89 per cent polling in the first phase covering 47 of the state’s total 126 Assembly constituencies. The first phase will decide the fate of several political heavyweights including incumbent Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state Congress chief Ripun Bora and jailed activist Akhil Gogoi

In West Bengal, four out of five eligible voters cast their ballot in each of the five districts: Purba Medinipur (82.51%), Jhargram (80.55%), Paschim Medinipur (80.12%), Bankura (79.9%) and Purulia (77.13%).

As many as 191 candidates, including 21 women, are contesting in the first phase. Of the electorate size of 73.8 lakh, female voters number 36.27 lakh and male 37.52. Both the BJP and the Trinamool are contesting 29 seats each out of the total 30

Apart from some sporadic incidents, the polls in 30 constituencies were conducted peacefully. At least 10 people have been arrested in different incidents,” said Aariz Aftab, Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.

In Assam, a total of 264 candidates, including 23 women, are in the fray in this phase, which has a total of 81.09 lakh eligible voters. A total of 11,537 polling booths were set up for the first phase. While the Congress, part of the ‘mahajat’ has fielded its candidates in 43 out of 47 seats, the BJP is contesting in 39.