Instances of clashes between workers of opposing political parties, use of crude bombs, and the death of at least one person marked the third phase of elections for 62 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, on Thursday.

Identified as Tahidur Islam, the 35-year-old CPI (M) worker’s body was found near a polling booth in the Domkal Assembly seat in Murshidabad district. At least nine others received injuries due to clashes in various constituencies during the polls.

The Election Commission declined to say whether the person was killed due to election-related violence or incidents.

“Incidents have taken place. Immediate action was taken and an FIR has been lodged against some people,” said Sandeep Saxena, Deputy Chief Election Commissioner, adding that it is not always possible to prevent incidents from taking place despite the Commission’s best efforts.

An FIR was registered against a former Member of Parliament for violating the Model Code of Conduct, while a Trinamool Congress leader was arrested for provoking party workers against Election Commission officials, said officials.

Voter turnout

Despite these incidents, the State reported a voter turnout of over 80 per cent , according to Sunil Gupta, State Chief Electoral Officer. In the 2011 Assembly elections, the 62 constituencies had reported a turnout of 84.83 per cent.

Voter turnouts across the 16 seats of Bardhaman stood at 78.26 per cent, while in the 17 seats of Nadia it was 81.62 per cent. In Murshidabad, which comprises 22 Assembly seats, the voter turnout was 79.29 per cent. In the seven Assembly seats of Kolkata, voter turnout was comparatively lower at 57.05 per cent.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Housing and Poverty Alleviation, Babul Supriyo, was allegedly heckled at a polling booth in Jorasanko constituency in north Kolkata.

In another incident in Kolkata, Trinamool Congress leader Anwar Khan was arrested after TV channels aired clips of him hurling expletives at the poll panel while talking to party workers over the phone.

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