West Bengal recorded a 78.05 percent voter turnout till 5 PM during the fourth phase of assembly elections. Polling is on for 49 seats on Monday.
The number is likely to rise as more reports come in, according to Election Commission of India (ECI).
A total of 67.28 percent turnout was recorded till 3 pm – 67.27 percent in North 24 Parganas and 67.31 percent in Howrah – said an Election Commission official.
The two districts of Howrah and North 24 Parganas are undergoing polls in the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections 2016. Balloting began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm.
North 24 Parganas District Election Officer Manmeet Nanda said so far 180 people have been been arrested in different poll-related incidents.
Police Arrests 110 people for Bogus Voting in Barrackpore
In Howrah district, BJP candidate Roopa Ganguly accused the presiding officer at Salkia of being biased.
In Dum Dum North constituency, CPI(M) candidate Tanmay Bhattacharya sustained injuries on his hand after stones were hurled at his car. Three persons were arrested, Barrackpore Police Commissioner Niraj Singh said.
So far, 110 people were arrested in Barrackpore police commissionerate area for bogus voting, booth jamming and being outsiders, Singh said.
Two others were arrested this morning in connection with an attack on the house of a family known for their affiliation to CPI(M) in Halishahar on Sunday night. In Beejpur, a family of CPI-M supporters alleged that their three-and-half-year-old child was beaten up.
TMC Targeting Everyone: Surjya Kant Mishra
West Bengal opposition leader and CPI(M) candidate Surjya Kanta Mishra has accused Trinamool Congress of resorting to violence.
Unnerved TMC goons targeting all. From the three-year-old child to the Left candidate. Even women were not spared. People will give a rebuff by ousting TMC.Surjya Kanta Mishra, Candidate, CPI(M)
In Howrah north seat, Trinamool candidate Laxmiratan Shukla complained that his co-contestant and BJP leader Roopa Ganguly entered booths and “threatened” presiding officers, disrupting the polling process.
The phase is crucial as it will decide the fate of several ministers – Finance Minister Amit Mitra, Agriculture Minister Purnendu Basu, Law Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, Tourism Minister Bratya Basu, Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick and Agriculture Marketing Minister Aroop Roy.
Polls Result in Low Attendance of MPs in Lok Sabha
The ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal and the forthcoming polls in Tamil Nadu led to thin attendance in the opposition benches in Lok Sabha on Monday. While no AIADMK MP attended the session, only a handful of Trinamool Congress members registered their presence in the House.
West Bengal observes the fourth phase of the six-phase assembly election on Monday.
Ham Radios Ensure Last Mile Connectivity for Security Forces
Ham radio is the only mode of communication for polling and security personnel during the ongoing assembly polls in some remote corners of West Bengal.
Armed with solar-powered batteries and ham radio handsets, a team of licensed ham radio operators were agents of last mile connectivity between North 24 Parganas district control room at Barasat and those on the field.
This is the first time that ham radio operators are being used in the election process to provide connectivity. We are very proud and are doing it free of cost as a service to the nation.Ambarish Nag Biswas, West Bengal Radio Club
They have set up their equipment and infrastructure in 47 polling premises, each manned by a licensed amateur ham radio operator. Most of such unconnected areas are in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sundarbans archipelago, famous for its tigers and mangrove forests.
Majority Achieved, Claims Mamata
Exuding confidence of returning to power after polls, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee claimed on Monday that her party had achieved majority after the fourth phase of polls.
Today (Monday) the fourth phase of polls are on. After this phase of polls, we have already attained the majority mark, needed to form the new government. After the results are announced you can check it.Mamata Bannerjee
Banerjee said addressing a poll meeting. Over 67 percent turnout was recorded till 3 PM on Monday. Banerjee said her government, in the last five years, had undertaken various developmental projects and turned Bengal into a favourite industrial destination.
(With PTI inputs)
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