Sporadic incidents of violence marred polling in the fifth and final phase of Parliamentary elections in West Bengal on Monday.
A total of 17 of the 42 constituencies in the State went to polls, with 2.5 crore voters exercising their franchise. Two Constituencies in Kolkata reported 70 per cent and 65 per cent polling, respectively.
At least 20 persons were injured in the violence. Fifty persons were arrested. At Haroa in Basirhat constituency, 14 people were injured when Trinamool Congress activists allegedly opened fire. Twelve arrests have so far been made in this regard.
Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, the Election Commission’s Special Observer for the State, visited the spot, but is yet to submit his report on the matter.
Other incidents of violence were reported mostly from Kolkata, Berhampore and Ghatal along with parts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas.
According to the EC, the overall polling process “was not disrupted”, though it did confirm there were a few “stray incidents” of violence.
Charges, counter charges The Opposition in the State said this was one of the most violent phases.
“This was a blood stained phase with widespread incidents of attack on the Opposition by ruling party workers,” Biman Bose, Left Front Chairman, told reporters.
Left Front agents were not allowed entry into 160-odd booths across the two constituencies in the city, he said.
The ruling Trinamool Congress said it was a conspiracy hatched by a “section of the media” and dismissed such allegations.
The EC ordered a re-poll in 11 booths in five constituencies that went to polls on April 30. Re-polling will take place on May 13.