65 per cent polling recorded in West Bengal bypoll

An estimated 65 per cent voters exercised their franchise as polling for byelections to ten West Bengal Assembly seats passed off by and large peacefully today.

'' Barring some stray and minor incidents, the polling was peaceful and smooth. There was no report of major untoward incidents. The percentage, however, may increase, '' Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Sen told UNI.

While Rajganj Assembly constituency in North Bengal registered the highest 75 per cent turnout, the lowest 45 per cent was recorded in high profile Alipore seat in the city, Mr Sen stated.

Electorate boycotted polling in a booth under Sujapur Assembly constituency in Malda on some local issues, he said adding sporadic incidents also marked the polling in a booth under the same seat as a Presiding Officer was removed allegedly for trying to influence the voters.

Two people were arrested for casting false votes in the Belgatchia East constituency on the northeastern fringes of the city, while seven were arrested from East Midnapore and five from North 24 Parganas, the CEO informed.

Two polling personnel were also replaced from a booth under Srirampore Assembly constituency, he said adding altogether 14 EVMs were changed in different booths. The constituencies, which went to polls, were Bealgachia (East), Kalchini (ST), Rajganj (SC), Sujapur, Goalpokhar, Bongaon, Contai South, Egra, Serampore and Alipore.

Nine seats fell vacant as the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha, while the death of Subhash Chakraborty, a prominent leader and Minister of the CPI(M), necessitated by-elections to Belgachia (East) seat.

The Election Commission deployed 40 companies of para military and state police forces across all the ten constituencies to ensure peaceful polling.

Close circuit cameras were also installed in some sensitive booths to monitor the situation during the polling process.

-- (UNI) -- 07CA25.xml

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