West Bengal civic polls: 65% turnout amid violence, disruption by tremor

About 65 per cent of the voters today turned out to elect their representatives in 91 civic bodies across West Bengal amid reports of alleged booth capturing, political clash and violence, killing one and leaving several injured. The election was disrupted for some time in many areas when earthquake was felt across the state around noon.

According to the state election commission, the overall voting percentage was around 65 per cent till 3 pm. It may go up as polling was still on in some of the booths.

However, the earthquake temporarily affected voting in Siliguri municipality. A polling premise at ward 38 reportedly collapsed partially in Siliguri, but polling resumed after some time.

In Jalpaiguri too electors and poll officers had to vacate many polling booths of Jalpaiguri and Malbazar municipality due to tremor. But polling was resumed in all booths after about an hour. Officials said it may result in lower turn out in Siliguri municipality.

A man is shifted to a local hospital after he gets a bullet injury in a violence at Katwa in Burdwan district of West Bengal

Despite deployment of 35 companies of central forces at the last minute, there were reports of sporadic violence the state, especially in DumDum, Barrackpore and Bhatpara municipalities in the outskirts of Kolkata. A 55-year-old man sustained bullet injury while standing in a queue at Titagarh in North 24 Parganas district. There were also attempted firings allegedly by Trinamool Congress-supported goons at a CPI(M) candidate at Ward No 2 in North Dumdum Municipality area.

At Katwa in Bardhaman district, 30-year old Indrajit Singh was shot dead. Live footages of bombing from several wards in Katwa was telecasted on several local channels since morning.

While state election commissioner Sushanta Ranjan Upadhay claimed, about 31 companies of Border Security Force (BSF) was deployed in Siliguri, Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24 Parganas district , reports of political clashes emerges these districts as well.

Trinamool Congress, which has swept all election in recent times West Bengal, is expected to bag victory in most of these civic bodies, while Left Front, BJP and Congress are fighting it out among themselves to strengthen their foothold in Bengal politics ahead of crucial assembly poll scheduled next year.