KOLKATA: Ballot, and not the bullet, won in the fourth phase of polls in West Bengal despite complaints of terror and intimidation. The average polling percentage in Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore and 13 seats in Burdwan is expected to cross 87%, up by 4% from the tally in past elections. Polling was held in 63 seats in this phase.
The Election Commission scored points on Tuesday. People who used to be locked up in highrises of Howrah or in remote villages of Hooghly and East Midnapore in earlier Assembly polls came out to vote. The polling percentage rose a few notches above the average polling in the past in these districts.
Voter turnout in East Midnapore was 89.40%. It could go above the 89% mark in recorded in the previous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Unlike in the past, Trinamool Congress could depute polling agents in all the booths in the CPM-dominated Arambagh belt in Hooghly. The CPM though could not field polling agents in 40 booths in Nandigram. In East Midnapore's Khejuri, another flashpoint, though they deputed polling agents in all booths.
Flashpoints from Burdwan's Mangalkote to Hooghly's Khanakul remained peaceful on poll day due to EC's elaborate security arrangement.
The surge in voter turnout has kept political parties on their tenterhooks. CPM leaders were worried even in places where the CPM had a comfortable lead in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
CPM polling agents chased Trinamool candidate and retired IPS officer Rachpal Singh from a polling station in Hooghly's Tarakeswar. CPM activists lodged an FIR against Trinamool heavyweight and retired IPS officer Sultan Singh in Howrah's Bally. Trinamool polling agent Sheikh Daru Salam was arrested from a polling booth in Nandigram. Seven presiding officers and four polling officers were changed following complaints of bias or due to illness.
Voters were firm though. Seventy five families in Singur's Joymollah, for instance, announced while going to the polling booth that they would vote for industry. Joymollah is a Trinamool bastion despite the exit of Tata Motors.
Whatever the result in the four Assembly seats in Arambagh, Goghat, Pursura and Khanakul, Trinamool activists have a reason to be happy. "This is the first time the Opposition could field polling agents in booths here," said Trinamool supporter Sanjib Biswas.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose, however, won't give the EC a clean chit. "Some criminals wanted by the police were campaigning for the Trinamool Congress in Nandigram. The EC did not take any step against them even after we submitted complaints. One such person arrested from a Nandigram polling booth on Tuesday vindicates us," Bose said.
Poll pundits are analysing the outcome of this increased voter turnout. Some chose to go with the popular belief that it went in Trinamool's favour. CPM leaders attributed the high turn out as a result of the high-voltage election campaign. According to them, both parties mobilised their supporters at polling booths like never before.
But there were voters in parts of Howrah, Hooghly and East Midnapore, who could not vote in past elections out of fear. They will most likely vote against perpetrators of violence.
Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said people won't let her down. She believed her tally would get a massive push in the fourth phase. CPM leaders in Burdwan sounded equally confident, despite the Opposition making major dents in Burdwan (South), Kalna, Purbasthali, Katwa and Mangalkote. Seven ministers in the fray ^ Nirupam Sen, Naren De, Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury, Soumendranath Bera, Mohanto Chatterjee, Pratim Chatterjee, Chakradhar Maikup ^ are having a tough time. Bera, a CPM candidate contesting from the red bastion of Pursura in Hooghly, complained against Trinamool activists. The complaint indicates there are surprises in store in this phase.
TOI
The Election Commission scored points on Tuesday. People who used to be locked up in highrises of Howrah or in remote villages of Hooghly and East Midnapore in earlier Assembly polls came out to vote. The polling percentage rose a few notches above the average polling in the past in these districts.
Voter turnout in East Midnapore was 89.40%. It could go above the 89% mark in recorded in the previous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Unlike in the past, Trinamool Congress could depute polling agents in all the booths in the CPM-dominated Arambagh belt in Hooghly. The CPM though could not field polling agents in 40 booths in Nandigram. In East Midnapore's Khejuri, another flashpoint, though they deputed polling agents in all booths.
Flashpoints from Burdwan's Mangalkote to Hooghly's Khanakul remained peaceful on poll day due to EC's elaborate security arrangement.
The surge in voter turnout has kept political parties on their tenterhooks. CPM leaders were worried even in places where the CPM had a comfortable lead in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
CPM polling agents chased Trinamool candidate and retired IPS officer Rachpal Singh from a polling station in Hooghly's Tarakeswar. CPM activists lodged an FIR against Trinamool heavyweight and retired IPS officer Sultan Singh in Howrah's Bally. Trinamool polling agent Sheikh Daru Salam was arrested from a polling booth in Nandigram. Seven presiding officers and four polling officers were changed following complaints of bias or due to illness.
Voters were firm though. Seventy five families in Singur's Joymollah, for instance, announced while going to the polling booth that they would vote for industry. Joymollah is a Trinamool bastion despite the exit of Tata Motors.
Whatever the result in the four Assembly seats in Arambagh, Goghat, Pursura and Khanakul, Trinamool activists have a reason to be happy. "This is the first time the Opposition could field polling agents in booths here," said Trinamool supporter Sanjib Biswas.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose, however, won't give the EC a clean chit. "Some criminals wanted by the police were campaigning for the Trinamool Congress in Nandigram. The EC did not take any step against them even after we submitted complaints. One such person arrested from a Nandigram polling booth on Tuesday vindicates us," Bose said.
Poll pundits are analysing the outcome of this increased voter turnout. Some chose to go with the popular belief that it went in Trinamool's favour. CPM leaders attributed the high turn out as a result of the high-voltage election campaign. According to them, both parties mobilised their supporters at polling booths like never before.
But there were voters in parts of Howrah, Hooghly and East Midnapore, who could not vote in past elections out of fear. They will most likely vote against perpetrators of violence.
Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said people won't let her down. She believed her tally would get a massive push in the fourth phase. CPM leaders in Burdwan sounded equally confident, despite the Opposition making major dents in Burdwan (South), Kalna, Purbasthali, Katwa and Mangalkote. Seven ministers in the fray ^ Nirupam Sen, Naren De, Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury, Soumendranath Bera, Mohanto Chatterjee, Pratim Chatterjee, Chakradhar Maikup ^ are having a tough time. Bera, a CPM candidate contesting from the red bastion of Pursura in Hooghly, complained against Trinamool activists. The complaint indicates there are surprises in store in this phase.
TOI
