Sporadic incidents of violence mar WB Ph-3

Bengal sees 73.93% turnout in 4 Lok Sabha seats

The third phase of Lok Sabha election, covering four parliamentary constituencies -two each in Malda and Murshidabad districts - in West Bengal, recorded a 73.93% voter turnout amid some stray incidents of tussle among Trinamul Congress, BJP, and CPI(M) on Tuesday.

In Malda, Malda Uttar and Malda Dakshin seats saw 73.30% and 73.68% polling respectively. In Murshidabad, Jangipur and Murshidabad seats witnessed 72.13% and 76.49% polling.

The day also witnessed the Assembly bypoll at Bagwangola in Murshidabad where the voter turnout clocked 73.68%, dropping from the 85.63% registered in the Assembly election in 2021.

According to the chief electoral officer, West Bengal, a total of 433 complaints were received from various political parties during the polling at the four parliamentary constituencies. CPI(M) state secretary

Mohammad Salim, who contested in Murshidabad this time, was seen going after fake polling agents at many booths.

However, he was gheraoed by TMC workers in protest of his act, leading to a tussle. Meanwhile, bombs were hurled at Hariharpara and Domkal on Monday night to terrorize the voters. TMC-backed miscreants threatened the CPI(M) workers not to vote.

Two CPI(M) polling agents were assaulted, and their motorbikes were damaged. At Jangipur, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Dhananjoy Ghosh and TMC leader Goutam Ghosh got engaged in a scuffle in front of the Ajagarpara polling station. The central paramilitary forces separated them.

At Shamsherganj, which is under the Malda Dakshin seat, two Congress polling agents and workers were admitted to the hospital with injuries after they were severely beaten up. At Mirzapur, two groups of TMC workers clashed over supporting the ISF candidate. Police dispersed them by lathicharge.

On the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, Trinamul supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee claimed at party rallies in Bankura and Purulia, “Modi Magic is over…I have never seen such a lying Prime Minister ever. When children lie, they are disciplined by their mothers. But when a PM lies, people should ensure justice by voting him out and ensuring that he never assumes power again.”

A mother (clockwise from left) with her divyang daughter after casting votes in Hathras on Tuesday. People from Basdatta village, Hathras, boycott the polls after their polling station was shifted 3 km away from the village. Voters wait in queues in Guwahati, a man shows his inkmarked finger in Bareilly and a voter at a polling station in Sambhal. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his wife Priti in Ahmedabad.